In the 30 years since its release, countless frames of “Back to the Future” have become iconic images: The time-traveling DeLorean shooting a blaze of fire trails through Doc“s and Marty”s legs. Marty staring, horrified, at his 17-year-old mother as she comes onto him in her bedroom. Doc Brown wearing a mind-reading contraption on his head, a damn thing that doesn”t work at all. Marty doing the duckwalk with a red Gibson guitar. Lightning striking the Hill Valley clock tower with a spectacular burst of sparks and light.
So what better way to celebrate 2015 – a big year for “Back to the Future” – than with a big hardcover book packed with large color photos and concept art? That”s HarperCollins” “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History.”
HitFix has your exclusive first look at “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History.”
The book will be released on October 20 this year, one day before the date that Doc and Marty travel to in “Back to the Future Part II.” It”s written by Michael Klastorin, the production publicist on “Back to the Future Part II” and “Part III,” along with Randal Atamaniuk, an expert on the trilogy and DeLoreans.
Klastorin also authored “Back to the Future: The Official Book of the Complete Movie Trilogy,” released in 1990.
“Ultimate Visual History” features 224 pages of never-before-seen photos, rare concept art, and interviews with key cast and crew members, including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale and Steven Spielberg. Also in the book are 13 insert items, including the cover of George McFly”s novel and a lenticular version of the photo of the McFly siblings.
Below, check out the title page of “Ultimate Visual History” and five spreads that feature storyboards, DeLorean time machine concept art, Joanna Johnston”s futuristic clothing sketches, and early designs for hoverboards. Look closely for fun details in these pages, like the DeLorean“s license plate in the storyboards – it reads “NO TIME,” not “OUTATIME” like it does in the film. Click on the pages to view a larger version.
Updated on June 25, 2015 at 8:21 p.m. ET: This article previously stated that the title page is the cover of “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History.” This has been corrected. The cover of the book will be revealed at a later date.
Updated on August 17, 2015, 1:14 p.m. ET: The cover for “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History” has been released: