The Iconic Sneakers of Marty McFly: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Every Halloween, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll spot someone dressed as Marty McFly from back To The Future. You might be surprised to learn that the character’s iconic look underwent several transformations before settling on its final design. Interestingly, did you know that Michael J. Fox, the actor behind Marty, played a crucial role in bringing his signature Nikes to life? However, this didn’t happen without some meaningful challenges behind the scenes before he could officially don those sneakers for the beloved film celebrating its 40th anniversary.
A Glimpse into Michael J. fox’s Journey with Back To The Future
In his recent memoir,Future Boy,Michael J. Fox shares numerous anecdotes from his time filming Back To The Future. From expressing his dislike for driving the DeLorean to addressing inconsistencies within the movie’s timeline, he provides an insider’s perspective on various aspects of production. One particularly fascinating story revolves around how Marty’s Nikes came to be.
“I brought my own style into Marty McFly — those Nike sneakers were mine,” Fox recalls about a fitting session in Malibu when the costume department realized they had forgotten Marty’s shoes at the soundstage. He arrived wearing his favorite pair of simple white Bruins with a red logo.
The Recasting and Its Challenges
If you’re not aware, Michael J. Fox was actually brought on board as a replacement for Eric Stoltz, who had originally been cast as Marty and filmed for nearly two months before being replaced.In Future Boy, Fox reflects on what it was like stepping into this role mid-production while also juggling filming commitments for his sitcom,
Diving deeper into one memorable fitting experience where Marty’s original shoes were accidentally left behind at the studio, he humorously noted how he suggested using his own Nikes during this mishap—his “go-to sneaks,” perfect for skateboarding and all of Marty’s antics.
“I was set to start filming as the new Marty in just two days,” he explained further about costume designer Deborah Scott facing another dilemma: needing multiple pairs of shoes from wardrobe just in case any got dirty or damaged during shooting—only to find out that my Nike Bruins were no longer available anywhere.”
Nike Steps In Amidst Production Hurdles
This posed quite an issue as production required several pairs of Marty’s sneakers; though, they soon discovered that these particular models were discontinued. Resolute not to let this setback derail their plans and sticking with Fox’s choice of footwear, producer Frank Marshall reached out directly to Nike seeking alternatives.
A Surprising Turnaround from Nike
This led him to connect with Pam McConnell at Nike’s product placement division based out in Portland Oregon; here’s how things unfolded:
“Frank called Pam explaining their predicament and boldly asked if Nike could produce those sneakers specifically for them,” recounts Fox regarding Marshall’s audacious request which included no budget offer upfront.”What happened next is almost unbelievable; instead of dismissing him outright or laughing off such an idea she calmly replied ‘Don’t worry about payment—how manny do you need?’ Frank quickly doubled what Deborah requested saying ‘We need twenty pairs by next week.’ She simply responded ‘Done.’”
The Impact of Movie Magic on Branding Successes!
This astonishing story highlights how powerful cinema can be when it comes down branding partnerships! It turned out well too since both parties benefited immensely—the film became one among history’s most celebrated classics while also paving way towards future collaborations between brands like Nike who later introduced self-lacing technology inspired by these very films back again years later (2015). This collaboration has proven fruitful given its lasting impact even today!
Dive Deeper Into Michael J.Fox’s Adventures As Marty Mcfly!
Michael J.Fox has plenty more captivating stories detailing what it meant playing such an iconic character throughout filming experiences shared within pages found inside his book now available everywhere!
Sarah El-Mahmoud has been partaking with CinemaBlend as 2018 after completing her Journalism degree at Cal State Fullerton where she served as Managing Editor overseeing award-winning publications including interviews featuring notable filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro discussing Oscar-winning projects such as “The Shape Of Water.” Currently focusing primarily upon YA television/movies along horror genres alike! Follow her journey through writing akin Sarah Connor portrayed famously within Terminator series!