Michael J. Fox’s on-screen reunion with Christopher Lloyd on the sitcomSpin Cityis probably the closest they’ll ever get to reprising their roles as Doc Brown and Marty McFly inBack to the Future Part IV. Before he was best known for playing Marty on the big screen, Fox was already sitcom royalty for his iconic role as Alex P. Keaton inthe hit showFamily Ties. The series ran for seven seasons between 1982 and 1989 and earned Fox three consecutive Emmys.
In 1996, Fox reunited withFamily Tiescreator Gary David Goldberg to work on another long-running sitcom.Spin Citytakes place in a fictionalized version of the New York City mayor’s office and stars Fox as Mike Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York. Fox and Lloyd shared the screen once more whenLloyd guest-starred in a classic episode ofSpin City. Now, it’s looking like that reunion will be the closest thing toBack to the Future Part IVthat ever gets made.
Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd Reunited In Spin City (& There Were Plenty Of Back To The Future Callbacks)
Lloyd Played Fox’s Political Mentor
Lloyd appeared alongside Fox inSpin Cityseason 3, episode 18, “Back to the Future IV: Judgment Day.” The episode seesMike trying to convince the mayor to appoint his own political mentor, Owen Joyce — played by Lloyd — to be the head of the city’s millennium project. The episode reminded viewers what madetheBack to the Futuremovieswork so well: Fox and Lloyd’s unparalleled on-screen chemistry. Their dynamic in this episode was so great that it’s a shame Lloyd wasn’t brought into the main cast.
“Back to the Future IV: Judgment Day” first aired on June 11, 2025.
Spin Citymade a bunch of references to theBack to the Futuremovies throughout its entire run. Carter joked that Mike’s political strategy relied on time travel and Mike recited a line from “Johnny B. Goode.” Butwhen Lloyd appeared on the show and shared the screen with Fox, the writers dialed theirBack to the Futurereferences up to 11— there’s even a nod toBack to the Futurein the episode’s title.
Why Back To The Future 4 Is Unlikely To Happen - Even With A New Cast
Robert Zemeckis Won’t Allow It
Even with a brand-new cast and a legacy storyline,Back to the Future Part IVis unlikely to get made. In a recent interview (viaVariety),director Robert Zemeckis joked that Universal asks him about doing a fourth film “every six months,” but he has no interestin expanding the franchise with a new sequel or a reboot.Zemeckis is open to adapting theBack to the Futurestage musicalinto a movie, but Universal isn’t interested in doing that. So,Spin Citywill probably remain the closest thing to aBack to the Futurereunion.
Spin City
Cast
Spin City is a political sitcom centered around Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty and his eclectic staff as they manage city hall in New York City. The series humorously explores the interplay of personal flaws and professional responsibilities within a team navigating the complexities of urban governance.
