Crispin Glover’s absence from Back to the Future Part II is indeed a topic that has been discussed and debated by fans for many years. While there have been various theories and rumors surrounding his departure, the most widely accepted explanation is a salary dispute between Glover and the film’s producers.
At the time of the first Back to the Future movie, Glover was a relatively unknown actor in his early twenties. He portrayed the character of George McFly, Marty McFly’s father, who plays a crucial role in the storyline. However, when it came to shooting the ending scenes for the first film, Glover expressed concerns and reluctance.
According to Bob Gale, the co-writer and co-producer of the Back to the Future trilogy, Glover had concerns about the portrayal of his character in the second film. He felt that the film’s ending, which featured a young version of George McFly, was exploitative and degrading. Glover raised these concerns with the filmmakers, but they were not receptive to his ideas.
As negotiations for the sequel began, Glover and his representatives demanded a higher salary for his participation in Back to the Future Part II. This request was reportedly met with resistance from the film’s producers, who believed that Glover’s role in the film was not significant enough to warrant a substantial salary increase.
Unable to reach an agreement, the decision was made to write Glover’s character out of the sequel entirely. Instead, the film used footage from the first movie, including a prosthetic mask worn by another actor, to create the appearance of George McFly in the few scenes he appears in Part II.
Glover, feeling that his concerns about the portrayal of his character were not being taken seriously, filed a lawsuit against the producers of the film. The lawsuit alleged that the filmmakers had used his likeness without his permission and that they had violated the Screen Actors Guild’s rules regarding the use of actors’ images.
The lawsuit eventually led to changes in the Screen Actors Guild’s rules, as well as a settlement between Glover and the producers. As a result, the use of an actor’s likeness without their consent became more regulated in the industry.
It is important to note that while the salary dispute is the most widely accepted explanation for Glover’s absence from Back to the Future Part II, there have been other theories suggested as well. Some speculate that creative differences or scheduling conflicts may have also played a role. However, the salary dispute remains the most prominent explanation given by those involved in the production of the film.
Crispin Glover’s absence from Back to the Future Part II can be attributed to a salary dispute between the actor and the film’s producers. Glover’s concerns about the portrayal of his character and his subsequent demands for a higher salary ultimately led to his departure from the sequel. The resulting lawsuit and settlement had a lasting impact on the industry, leading to changes in the regulations regarding the use of actors’ likenesses.