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Great Scott! 'Back to the Future' to return as a stage musical

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in the original
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in the originalCourtesy Everett Collection

Synchronize your watches for 2015 and get your cars revved up to 88 mph! A musical adaptation of "Back to the Future" will be opening in London's West End next year, the 30th anniversary of the Robert Zemeckis-directed film that starred Michael J. Fox.

Producers made the announcement Thursday night, according to The Associated Press

The musical will be written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale (who both wrote the original film's screenplay) and Jamie Lloyd, with fresh songs from Alan Silvestri and songwriter Glen Ballard. Producers include Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment.

"The production will include illusions, skateboarding and many other surprises that will capture the spirit of the film but freshly interpret it for a new audience," said Lloyd, who will also direct. 

The first "Future" film proved to be Fox's breakout role; in 1985, when it was released, he had largely been known for appearing on the TV series "Family Ties." In the film, Fox's character, Marty McFly, is accidentally thrust back into 1955 in a DeLorean car modified by his wacky professor pal Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd). A 1989 sequel sent McFly into the future (2015, as it turns out) and the final episode in the franchise, from 1990, saw McFly having to track down the Doc, who was stuck in 1885. 

The idea of a "Back to the Future" musical has been in discussions for years, with Gale mentioning it at a 2004 DeLorean Car Show and Convention. "You know how they bring back movies as Broadway musicals?" he asked the audience then. "It seems like 'Back to the Future' would make a great Broadway show. So someday, maybe that'll happen. That's something I'd like to see."

And yes, if the show does well on the West End, there's every chance it could fly over to Broadway ... like a souped-up DeLorean.