Summary

• Crispin Glover was replaced as George McFly in Back to the Future Part II due to a disagreement with Robert Zemeckis on the film's message.
• The production reused footage of Glover and used prosthetics to cast Jeffrey Weissman in the role for the sequel.
• Glover launched a lawsuit against the production for using his likeness without permission, resulting in changes to SAG rules.

Crispin Glover was infamously replaced as George McFly for Back to the Future Part II. Back to the Future sees Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly accidentally transported back in time 30 years, where he must figure out a way to get back to his own timeline while uniting his teenage parents - or he'll be wiped from existence. The 1985 film is a standout Robert Zemeckis movie and a sci-fi classic that has only gotten better with age. It's perfectly cast, shot, edited, and scored, and it spawned two sequels, a cartoon series, and numerous video games.

The franchise is known for replacing actors in key roles, with Elizabeth Shue replacing Claudia Wells as Jennifer for Back to the Future Part II, and the most famous recasting is Eric Stoltz. He was cast as Marty in Back to the Future when Fox wasn't available, but despite filming for an estimated six weeks, Zemeckis and producer Steven Spielberg concluded he didn't have the right comic tone for the film, with his Marty being too intense. A similar casting decision was made with George McFly in Back to the Future Part II.

Why Crispin Glover Was Replaced In Back To The Future Part II

The Actor Disagreed With Robert Zemeckis & Then Declined A Low Money Offer

Glover's endearingly quirky portrayal of George is one of the original film's highlights, but he clashed with Zemeckis during filming. Glover hated the Back to the Future ending, where George and the family become rich thanks, with Glover feeling linking wealth with happiness was a bad message. Crispin Glover revealed he was offered much less money than his other returning co-stars for Back To The Future Part II, so he dropped out. Instead of recasting the part, the filmmakers decided to reuse footage of Glover from the original and cast a new actor in prosthetics to resemble Glover.

Jeffrey Weissman (Pale Rider) stepped into the role, initially believing he would be photo double for Glover before learning he'd essentially be playing the part. Weissman had to play George from ages 17 to 77, and in the latter section he was hung upside down; many believed this was to hide the fact it wasn't Glover, but Weissman has said this was always the plan and was planned as punishment for Glover's behavior on the first movie.

How Crispin Glover Responded To Being Replaced For Back To The Future Part II

The Actor Launched A Lawsuit Against The Production For Using His Likeness

Since Back To The Future Part II and Part III used Crispin Glover's likeness without his permission or compensation, he launched a lawsuit against the production. He was awarded a settlement, which resulted in changes to SAG rules about using the actors' likeness without their consent.

Weissman claimed that he was blacklisted by Universal as a result of a conversation he had with Glover

Glover also wasn't happy with Weissman's performance as George. Weissman claimed that he was blacklisted by Universal as a result of a conversation he had with Glover prior to the lawsuit (via Hasslein Books). However, Jeffrey Weissman has continued to act and recently appeared in the fan film Project 88: Back to the Future Too.