Countless movie props end up in private collections or are kept in places where the public can view and enjoy them. However, it’s far more unusual to have an iconic prop disappear entirely, and that’s precisely what has happened to Michael J. Fox’s guitar from Back to the Future.
1985’s Back to the Future is a beloved blockbuster that paved the way for an entire trilogy. Many think of the DeLorean when they think of the legendary film, but others will recall the scene at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, rocks the stage with a red Gibson ES-345. Nobody knows where that piece of movie history has gone, sparking a massive search as the movie turns 40 this year.
The search effort has a far grander scope than you may expect. Multiple stars from the movie and even Gibson have joined forces to spread the word.
In a video titled “Lost to the Future,” Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, and Christopher Lloyd take to the camera in hopes of tracking down the guitar. “We’re trying to find the guitar that I played in Back to the Future,” Fox explains. The video is reportedly just one part of an upcoming documentary by Gibson Films.
Nobody Has Seen The Guitar In Decades
Harry Waters JR., who played Marvin in the movie, explains, “No one has seen that guitar since 1985, and we need to find it.” Fox jokes, “It’s somewhere lost in the space-time continuum, or it’s in some teamster garage.” Ultimately, the movie cast is asking for help tracking down the legendary instrument. They provide a contact number, 1-855-345-1955. There is even a Lost to the Future website where searchers can submit tips and findings.
In an interview with People, Thompson explained she has no idea where the guitar could have gone. She also revealed there was no talk of a sequel at the time. “There was no sequel deal. There was no concept of that. I mean, that’s how long ago it was. So people weren’t like Star Wars taking the props and everything.”