Writer Bob Gale shares the story behind the iconic film Back to the Future following its 40-year anniversary. Gale traces his creative partnership with director Robert Zemeckis back to their USC days and a shared love of classic Hollywood storytelling and time-travel tales. The idea clicked in 1980 after Gale discovered his father’s 1940 high school yearbook and asked: What if you went to high school with your dad? Despite multiple rejections, a tumultuous casting process, grueling production challenges, and a tight schedule, Back to the Future ultimately came together to form a beloved franchise that instantly captured audiences worldwide.