Marking the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, Michael J Fox has recalled in his new memoir Future Boy how co-star Crispin Glover’s unconventional approach to playing George McFly caused behind-the-scenes tension.
Fox wrote that Glover rarely stayed on his mark during filming, leading the crew to construct a “miniature corral” of sandbags and C-stands to keep him within the frame. Despite the friction, Fox said he enjoyed working with Glover and respected his commitment to the character.
Glover was recast for the sequels after he objected to the original ending of the first film, which saw the McFly family become wealthy. He later sued the filmmakers for using his likeness without permission and won.
Fox noted that Glover’s methods were unpredictable, but his talent was unquestionable. The memoir also recalls Glover’s brief appearance on Family Ties as a classmate of Fox’s character, Alex Keaton.
