Bob Gale, co-writer and co-producer of Back to the Future, recently made a suggestion that has fans buzzing. During a special event celebrating 40 years of the beloved film franchise, Gale floated the idea of a letter-writing campaign to bring back Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal theme parks.
The event, titled Back to the Future 40th Anniversary Screening with Bob Gale, took place on October 21, 2025, at Universal Cinema AMC CityWalk in Hollywood—exactly 10 years after the “future date” of October 21, 2015, featured in Back to the Future Part II.
Bob Gale suggests a letter-writing campaign to bring the Back To The Future ride back to @UniStudios 😂 pic.twitter.com/2iBHEZQTD9
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) October 22, 2025
According to a post by Screen Rant on X, Gale suggested a letter-writing campaign to bring Back To The Future: The Ride back to Universal.
Of course, it was entirely possible that he was joking, but the comment gained traction when it was reposted by the official Back to the Future account, fueling speculation that a revival could be possible.
They could do worse. There’s pent up demand for Back to the Future now that it’s apparent they aren’t going to reboot it (and shouldn’t). The ride would be a smash hit.
— Spokker (@Spokker) October 22, 2025
Joke or not, fans responded positively to the suggestion.
What Was Back to the Future: The Ride?
Back to the Future: The Ride opened on May 2, 1991 at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, and later arrived at Universal Studios Hollywood in June of 1993. Guests boarded a motion-simulated DeLorean to chase Biff Tannen through time, experiencing a mini-sequel to the original trilogy on an 80-foot domed projection screen with groundbreaking (at the time…) motion technology.
Doc and Marty in Back to The Future – YouTube, Universal Pictures
Both versions of the ride closed in 2007 and were replaced by The Simpsons Ride, which became the centerpiece of the immersive Springfield lands at Universal’s domestic parks.
The Problem With The Simpsons Ride
At launch, The Simpsons was already something of a pop culture afterthought, but the landscape shifted again in 2017 when Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, including the rights to The Simpsons. This meant Universal was paying licensing fees to a major competitor to keep the attraction running.
The Springfield Sign in the Universal Studios Orlando Simpsons land – YouTube, The Simpsons Theory
Since then, interest in the Simpsons attraction has waned, while nostalgia for Back to the Future has surged. With Universal increasingly leaning into retro experiences and fan-favorite IPs, the timing for a possible revival may well be at hand.
The Simpsons co-showrunner Matt Selman recently told Entertainment Weekly that removing his show’s ride would “destroy” Universal. However, it may be worth the risk.
No New Movies—But Hope for the Ride
Both Bob Gale and co-creator Robert Zemeckis have repeatedly stated there will be no new Back to the Future films. The trilogy is complete. But the franchise isn’t going away anytime soon. The original film returns to theaters for a limited 40th anniversary run on October 31, 2025, keeping fan excitement alive.
Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) attempts to make repairs on the Hill Valley Clocktower in Back To The Future – YouTube, MovieClips
Could Gale’s suggestion spark a real campaign to bring the ride back? Universal hasn’t commented on the future of The Simpsons Ride, but with recent successes at its parks and fan nostalgia at an all-time high, the possibility has fans dreaming of time-traveling DeLoreans once more.
Do you want to see the Back to The Future ride return to Universal Studios? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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