Future looks bright for a classic film that's stood the test of time

Daniel O'Brien on the Back To The Future trilogy

- writes Daniel O'Brien, lecturer in the Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex.

It has now been four decades since Marty McFly first hit 88 miles per hour in a time-travelling DeLorean

Robert Zemeckis's sci-fi adventure blockbuster didn't just navigate the space-time continuum onscreen (thanks to the flux capacitor). It also found a lasting place in the hearts of its audience.

Personally, I don't think I've ever heard anyone speak badly about the Back to the Future trilogy (aside from certain cast members, which I'll touch on later). It has thankfully avoided the common traps of remakes and the sprawling expanded universe trend, which has diluted so many other beloved franchises (yes, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings, I'm talking to you).

Naturally, the success of Back to the Future has inspired a range of adaptations, including a computer game, an immersive Secret Cinema event, as well as a more recent West End stage musical.

But each version stays true to the spirit of the original, reinforcing what feels like an unspoken rule in Hollywood: Back to the Future is off-limits to a cinematic or televised remake.

Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who co-wrote the screenplay for all three films, have repeatedly shut down the idea of a fourth instalment, declaring that the trilogy is complete. In fact, aside from a few delightful Back to the Future references in other shows made by the original stars themselves, the only remake you're likely to come across is BBTF Project 85.