Michael J. Fox Says The Search Is On For Marty McFly's Lost Guitar From Back to the Future

Michael J. Fox and Gibson have officially launched a global mission to locate the iconic guitar used in the legendary Enchantment Under the Sea dance scene from the 1985 classic *Back to the Future*. In a newly released YouTube video, Fox made a heartfelt appeal to fans: “We need your help—we’re trying to find the guitar I played in *Back to the Future*.” He added with a smile, “It’s somewhere lost in the space-time continuum, or maybe it’s just sitting in some teamster’s garage.”

The sought-after instrument is a Cherry Red Gibson ES-345, custom-built for the film and central to Marty McFly’s unforgettable performance of "Johnny B. Goode." To support the search, Gibson unveiled a retro-style “Wanted” poster featuring the missing guitar and the bold headline: “Have You Seen This Guitar?” The campaign has drawn support from key figures connected to the film.

Have you seen this guitar? Image credit: Gibson TV / YouTube.

Joining Fox in the effort are co-stars Lea Thompson, who portrayed Lorraine Baines-McFly, and Christopher Lloyd, the brilliant Dr. Emmett Brown. Both encouraged fans to share any leads via a dedicated website or tip line set up by Gibson. Music legend Huey Lewis also appeared in the video, lending his voice to the cause—after all, his band’s hit song plays a pivotal role in the film’s climactic scene.

This high-stakes hunt will be chronicled in an upcoming documentary titled Lost to the Future, produced by Gibson, which promises to explore every lead, rumor, and behind-the-scenes mystery surrounding the missing instrument. “We’ve been chasing down tips for years,” said Doc Crotzer, the documentary’s director, in a recent interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*. “It’s been 40 years, memories fade, and there were no digital records back then. Receipts? Provenance? Forget it. Everyone has a different story.”

Gibson strategically launched the search in 2025 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of *Back to the Future*, reigniting fan excitement and nostalgia for one of cinema’s most beloved franchises. However, while the physical legacy of the film is being rediscovered, its creative future remains firmly closed.

Bob Gale, co-writer of the original trilogy, recently reaffirmed that there will never be a *Back to the Future 4*, prequel, spinoff, or television series. Despite rumors fueled by comments from the creators of *Cobra Kai*, Gale was adamant: “I don’t know why they keep talking about it! Do they think repeating it will make it happen?” In an interview with *People*, he emphasized, “When people ask, ‘When is *Back to the Future 4* coming?’ I say: Never. ‘What about a prequel?’ Never. ‘A TV show?’ Never. It’s perfect enough as it is.”

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