Back to the Future musical to open in 2015

A musical version of Back to the Future, directed by Jamie Lloyd, will be opening in the West End in 2015, to coincide with the 30th anniversary year of the film.

The film was written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale and the duo are developing the stage musical version with Universal Stage Productions, producer Colin Ingram and Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. The show will be produced with Donovan Mannato and CJ E&M.

The Back to the Future musical will have a book by Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale and Jamie Lloyd, and new music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, with additional music from the film by Huey Lewis & The News, Chuck Berry, Pat Ballard and Curtis Williams. The production will have costume design by Soutra Gilmour, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting design by Jon Clark and musical supervision by Alan Williams.

Starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown, the Back to the Future film was released in 1985 and was a huge box office hit, taking $360.6 million.

The film is about Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr Emmett 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.

Bob Gale said, "The Back to the Future Musical is a project that Bob Zemeckis and I have been exploring for almost ten years. 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."

Director Jamie Lloyd said, "Rather than attempt to recreate such an iconic movie on stage, we have assembled a brilliant artistic team to discover a unique theatrical language to take audiences on a journey through time in a vibrant, unexpected way. 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."

Jamie Lloyd's recent London stage credits include The Pride and Macbeth at the Trafalgar Studios, The Commitments at the Palace Theatre and The Duchess of Malfi at the Old Vic.