Michael J. Fox reflects on his early career experiences in his newly released memoir, *Future Boy*, which revisits the production of the iconic 1985 films *Teen Wolf* and *Back to the Future*. Although *Teen Wolf* premiered just a month after *Back to the Future*, it was overshadowed by the latter’s monumental success, which dominated the box office for three months, ultimately becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.
Fox humorously recalls his time on the set of *Teen Wolf*, sharing a particularly memorable moment involving a prop guy asking him to take promotional photos holding a chocolate bar. Covered in yak hair for the role, Fox candidly admitted to feeling like a “whore,” to which the prop guy bluntly responded, “Well, you are a whore.” Despite the lighthearted tone, Fox used this anecdote to highlight the stark contrast between the crew dynamics of *Teen Wolf* and the high-caliber team behind *Back to the Future*. The latter boasted a budget of $19 million, backed by director Robert Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg, while *Teen Wolf* was developed for a modest $4 million and grossed around $80 million at the box office.
In his memoir, Fox explains that he initially signed on for *Teen Wolf* while juggling the demanding schedule of his sitcom *Family Ties*. His agent presented the script for a low-budget film that could fit into his production break. Fox acknowledges this film as his first lead role, despite deeming it “hackneyed.” He even humorously noted that a “wolf theme” had previously worked well for Michael Landon in *I Was a Teenage Werewolf*.
Interestingly, an alternate timeline existed where Fox could have starred in *Back to the Future* much earlier, as he was initially offered the role before *Teen Wolf* was in the works. When the filmmakers opted to replace the original choice Eric Stoltz after weeks of filming, they reached out to Fox, who was then permitted to join after his sitcom’s creator adjusted the schedule to allow it.
The resulting success of both films significantly impacted Fox’s career, leading to multiple sequels for *Back to the Future* and a reimagined *Teen Wolf* series on MTV that introduced new generations to the story and helped to launch the careers of actors such as Tyler Posey and Dylan O’Brien. Through it all, Fox looks back on his journey with gratitude, recognizing how these projects helped shape his future in Hollywood.