Rare footage showcasing the Ben Stiller Marty McFly audition has come to light, giving fans a glimpse of what the famed Back to the Future role might have looked like with a different star. The audition, now available for viewing due to the Back to the Future Ultimate Trilogy home video release, offers insight into the casting process of the beloved 1980s classic, filmed long before Michael J. Fox became synonymous with Marty McFly.
Ben Stiller, best known for his roles as Ted in There’s Something About Mary, Greg Focker in Meet the Parents, and Derek Zoolander, was among several notable young actors who read for the part of Marty McFly. Other well-known names in the mix included Jon Cryer, C. Thomas Howell, and Billy Zane. The role, which ended up launching Michael J. Fox’s film career, was clearly one of the most highly sought-after characters of that era.
Stiller’s Brief Audition Reveals Character Nuances
The unearthed footage shows a young Ben Stiller engaging in a reading where he channels Marty’s feelings of uncertainty when interacting with the younger version of his mother, Lorraine. In response to a probing question about his parents, Stiller’s Marty offers a line that captures the character’s confusion upon traveling back in time:
Lorraine, lately I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t know anything about my parents.
Although brief, this moment highlights Stiller’s impressive ability to deliver vulnerability and nervous energy, hallmarks that would later define his signature comedic style. Despite being only about 19 during the audition, Stiller demonstrated sincerity and the beginnings of the neurosis-driven humor that he would later bring to his best-loved characters.
The audition is described as charming and fitting for those familiar with Stiller’s future work. Even at this early stage, he managed to convey qualities that would become central to his star persona—a combination of earnestness, comedic awkwardness, and genuine relatability.
How Marty McFly Landed in Different Hands
Despite his captivating screen test, the Ben Stiller Marty McFly audition was just one of several, and the role did not ultimately go to him. Michael J. Fox was initially the preferred choice of the filmmakers—director Robert Zemeckis and writer-producer Bob Gale—but his commitment to Family Ties made scheduling too difficult. The role was temporarily given to Eric Stoltz, fresh from his performance in Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask, but Stoltz’s more dramatic interpretation was not the fit the creative team hoped for.
According to Caseen Gaines’ book, We Don’t Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy, the filmmakers determined that Stoltz’s approach wasn’t right for the comedic and adventurous spirit they envisioned. Early in 1985 they made the bold move to replace Stoltz with Fox, who went on to make Marty McFly one of the most iconic teenage characters in film history.
Michael J. Fox’s performance drew on his natural charisma, sharp comedic timing, and an affable charm that became inseparable from Marty. While Stiller brought undeniable talent and an infectious nervous comic energy, the final casting solidified Fox as the face of the blockbuster franchise. Stiller’s missed opportunity did little to derail his career, as he broke through with There’s Something About Mary in 1998, followed by a string of successes in Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Tropic Thunder—a film he also co-wrote and directed—demonstrating his versatility as both performer and creative force.
Although he lost out on the role, Stiller’s path demonstrates the unpredictable nature of Hollywood casting, as both he and Fox went on to have remarkable and diverse careers. The Back to the Future franchise became a cultural touchstone, and Fox’s portrayal remains central to its legacy, but the audition tape stands as a testament to how close history came to playing out differently.
The Imagined Timeline: What If Ben Stiller Had Played Marty McFly?
The release of the Ben Stiller Marty McFly audition not only fascinates fans but also sparks curiosity about what the film could have been with a different lead. The now-public audition tape enriches Back to the Future lore, showcasing just how seriously major young actors, including Stiller, vied for the shot at cinematic history. It underscores the project’s significance at Universal Pictures, with heavyweights like director Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and executive producer Steven Spielberg all attached from the start, adding weight to the original casting process.
Contemplating an alternate casting choice is reminiscent of the movie’s own timeline-altering premise: if Stiller had landed Marty McFly, the entire feel and humor of the film would have changed, resulting in a ripple effect within both the franchise and Stiller’s career. Stiller’s comedic sensibilities might have led to a different, but potentially equally memorable, interpretation of the time-traveling teenager. Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown, another pillar of the trilogy, could have had unique chemistry with Stiller, creating a fresh on-screen dynamic and offering fans a new version of beloved scenes.
This “what if” exercise emphasizes how pivotal casting decisions are, not just for the actors involved but for the enduring influence of cultural phenomena. As fans witness the newly revealed audition, the idea of branching timelines feels more tangible—much like the movie’s own concept of changing the future by altering the past. The legacy of Back to the Future lives on in these alternative scenarios, sparking endless discussion among enthusiasts.
For those inspired to revisit the original, Back to the Future remains available for streaming on Netflix in the United States, ensuring that new audiences continue to discover Michael J. Fox’s groundbreaking take on Marty McFly as well as the artistic contributions of the entire cast, including Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown and the remarkable list of actors who almost joined them on screen.
