‘Back to the Future’ Writer Slams Suggestion of Spinoff Show in ‘Cobra Kai’ Finale (Exclusive) ArticlePure

• The finale of Cobra Kai featured a conversation between two of its co-creators, Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz, discussing a possible Back to the Future television series
• Back to the Future screenwriter Bob Gale tells PEOPLE that there will not be a revival of the popular sci-fi films
• The first of the Back to the Future trilogy debuted in 1985 and in the 40 years since, it has gone on to become a hit Broadway musical

Back to the Future is staying in the past.

One of the screenwriters of the famous sci-fi trilogy, Bob Gale, spoke about its success with PEOPLE at the opening of Universal Fan Fest Nights on April 25. After Cobra Kai’s finale teased the creation of a BTTF television show, Gale reveals that the scene was purely fictional.

“I don’t know why they keep talking about that!” he said. “I mean, do they think that if they say it enough times, we’re going to actually do it?”

“I mean, it’s like they know in every interview people say, ‘Oh Bob, when is there going to be a Back to the Future 4?’ Never,” he continued. “‘When is there going to be a prequel?’ Never. ‘When is there going to be a spinoff?’ Never. It’s just fine the way it is. It’s not perfect, but as Bob Zemeckis used to say, ‘It’s perfect enough.’”

Because the universal answer among the films’ creators is definitive, Gale noted that it would take a lot to change their minds.

“If the juggernaut of corporate America or corporate international mishigas says, ‘If you don’t agree to this, we’re going to kill your children,’ alright, well, no, we don’t want our children killed,’” he joked. “But [executive producer] Steven Spielberg, of course, he’s got to sign off on it too. And Steven, just like Steven won’t allow another E.T., he totally respects the fact that we don’t want any more Back to the Future. He gets it and always stood behind that. And thank you, Steven.”

Still, 40 years after the first BTTF movie premiered, its fan base has only gotten larger. Looking back, Gale said the core message of the series has withstood the test of time.

“What’s so great is seeing the next generation of kids that are being touched by this and [think], ‘gee, my parents were once kids,’” he explained. “That’s why I think it keeps on going, because every kid comes that realization at some point, and we made a movie about that. So I love the fact that people are newly discovering it.”

And although there won’t be any revivals coming, Gale reflected on how they have kept BTTF’s legacy alive. 

“We’ve made Back to the Future The Musical, which is still playing in London, it’s on a U.S. tour,” he said. “We just opened it in Tokyo in Japanese, and they’re just as crazy — or crazier — over there about that whole Back to the Future as anywhere else. So, I mean, I’m humbled and blown away by the fact that Bob and I came up with something that has this much staying power.”

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In February, rumors of a BTTF TV series began when eagle-eyed fans noticed two of the three Cobra Kai co-creators, Josh Heald and Jon Hurwitz, discussing the possibility in the same bar as Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his former rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).

“So the show would be set in Hill Valley, alternate 1985,” Hurwitz said in the episode. “All we need are Wilson, Thompson and Zane, and we’ve got the green light.”

“Billy’s a friend,” Heald replied. “Guy did an art piece for my foyer. It’s an easy call to make. I feel like why not get Crispin, too? Maybe Mike to direct? We can blow this thing up.”

They were clearly referring to BTTF stars Thomas F. Wilson (who played Biff), Lea Thompson (Lorraine McFly), Billy Zane (Biff’s pal Match), Crispin Glover (a.k.a. George McFly) and, of course, “Mike” being original franchise star Michael J. Fox.

“That’s just us having fun,” Hurwitz later told PEOPLE at SCAD TVfest. “We know that the Back to the Future franchise is something that’s very closely guarded — and for good reason. If they ever decided they wanted to have a sequel series, then we’d be all-in.”

Cobra Kai is available to stream on Netflix. Although the Back to the Future series is not on streaming services, they are available to rent across multiple platforms.