About this episode
In episode 498 I discuss how the filming of the movie Back to the Future started during a Mercury retrograde period, and the production experienced notorious delays, including firing the lead actor after 6 weeks of filming. By examining the challenges and ultimate success of the film, we can gain a deeper understanding of what Mercury retrograde truly means in astrology. The story begins with the filmmakers, Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, who, after years of developing the script, had their hearts set on Michael J. Fox for the lead role of Marty McFly. When Fox was unavailable, they moved forward with another actor, Eric Stoltz. Filming commenced in late November 1984, precisely as Mercury was slowing down to station retrograde. Mercury retrogrades are often associated with delays, revisions, and the need to redo things. The initial weeks of filming with Stoltz proved to be a prime example of these themes, as his more serious interpretation of the role clashed with the comedic vision of the filmmakers. This led to the difficult and highly unusual decision to recast the lead role in the middle of production. The story of Back to the Future's creation, with its delays and necessary do-overs, serves as a powerful real-world example of Mercury retrograde in action, teaching us that sometimes we must go back to the past to correct our course in order to create a better future. Join me as I break down the astrological timeline of these events and discuss the broader lessons we can learn about navigating our own Mercury retrograde periods. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction: Back to the Future & Mercury Retrograde 00:00:28 - What Mercury Retrograde Means in Astrology 00:00:52 - The Movie's Origin Story 00:02:11 - The Failed Attempt to Cast Michael J. Fox 00:03:40 - Eric Stoltz is Cast as Marty McFly 00:04:36 - The Astrology of When Filming Began 00:07:23 - Filming with Eric Stoltz Isn't Working 00:09:20 - The Fateful Decision to Recast the Lead 00:09:51 - Approaching Michael J. Fox During Christmas 00:11:47 - The Astrology Chart of the Recasting 00:13:20 - Michael J. Fox's Birth Chart Transits 00:16:15 - Stoltz is Fired, Fox Starts Filming 00:19:03 - Michael J. Fox's Grueling Filming Schedule 00:23:36 - Production Delays & Eventual Success 00:25:30 - Key Lessons About Mercury Retrograde 00:28:27 - The Venus Retrograde Connection to Star Wars 00:33:23 - The Lasting Impact on the Actors 00:34:54 - 40th Anniversary Repeats the Astrology of 1985 00:37:37 - Final Conclusions Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mXmW1AhfEg – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 498 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: