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 The film starred Michael J. Fox as a time traveler in a
souped-up DeLorean who lands 30 years in the past and, among
other things, introduces Chuck Berry to rock and roll.
It gave rise to two sequels, in the first of which Fox goes into
the future — coincidentally to 2015, the year the musical is
expected to open.
Robert Zemeckis, who directed and co-wrote the movie, will team
up with co-writer Bob Gale for a new book for the musical, a
joint statement from Zemeckis and Gale said.
Universal Stage Productions ("Wicked" and "Billy Elliott"),
London-based producer Colin Ingram and Hollywood producer and
director Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment are also
involved in the production, the statement said.
"The 'Back to the Future Musical' is a project that Bob Zemeckis
and I have been exploring for almost 10 years," Gale said in the
statement.
"We're thrilled to be at last in partnership with a creative and
producing team that will create a show that is true to the
spirit of the film without being a slavish remake."
Jamie Lloyd, a former associate director of London's renowned
Donmar Warehouse, will direct. There will be new music and
lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, with additional music
from the film by Huey Lewis & The News.
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 "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," Lloyd said
in the press release.
"Steven Spielberg once described the film as a musical and whilst we
are incorporating some of the original, exhilarating score and
songs, Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard's witty, infectious and
heartfelt new songs are the perfect springboard to tell this
uplifting story anew."
"Back to the Future" starred Fox as Marty McFly and
Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown. It took in $360.6 million at
the box office worldwide. The total box office for the original and
its two sequels was $936.6 million, the statement said.
McFly is a teenager who is accidentally sent 30 years into the past
in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Brown. As well
as finding a way back to 1985, Marty must make sure his high
school-aged parents unite in order to save his own existence.
(Editing by Larry King)
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