Toyota reunites Marty McFly and Doc for a Mirai ad
The Back to the Future franchise is enjoying a boost in popularity thanks to a combination of the original film's 30th anniversary this year and that the sequel was partially set on Oct. 21, 2015. That date is special for Toyota because it's when the first Mirais will be delivered to customers in California. Clearly, the brand synergy is too good to pass up, so the Japanese automaker is reuniting Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd to promote the futuristic, hydrogen fuel cell sedan.
A full video with the Back to the Future actors and the Mirai arrives on Oct. 21, too. In the meantime, you can get an early taste with the two guys talking about the film's futuristic tech in the short clip above. It comes off as two old buddies just shooting the breeze. Beyond reuniting the stars, Toyota has more Back to the Future festivities ready. The company will also reveal a Tacoma that's customized to look like the truck that Marty wants so badly in the first movie. The automaker has a party planned on Oct. 20 with a big celebration at midnight to inaugurate Mirai sales.
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Show full PR text Toyota Takes You 'Back to the Future'
Actors Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd Reunite to Showcase the Toyota Mirai; The Future Begins October 21
TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2015) - Get ready for 1.21 gigawatts of fun. Just as Back to the Future fans are gearing up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Marty McFly's and Doc Brown's adventures, Toyota teased plans to mark the film's anniversary with a modern twist. Thanks to Toyota, fans can see actors Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd together and get a glimpse of what the automaker has planned leading up to October 21, 2015 - the futuristic date first introduced in Back to the Future Part II and the official on-sale date of Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
In 1985, Universal Pictures' Back to the Future introduced the world to a time-traveling vehicle and what the future may hold. Thirty years later, Toyota has partnered with the beloved films to celebrate the intersection between the U.S. arrival of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and the innovation predicted in the movie. Today's video is just the beginning - fans will have to stay tuned to see how the story unfolds.
"Over the years we've had a lot of fun predicting which Back to the Future fictional 2015 technology would arrive by the real year," Michael J. Fox said. "Now that we're a week away, I think fans are going to have a good time with what Toyota sees as a true possibility for transportation. It's actually really cool."
Toyota's vision for the future is driven by the Mirai's hydrogen fuel cell technology, which hits the streets of California on October 21. As Toyota's ongoing "Fueled by Everything" digital campaign has demonstrated, hydrogen fuel has the potential to be produced from renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biogas. The vehicle's only tailpipe emission is water.
"This Back to the Future-inspired milestone has taken 30 years to arrive, and Toyota has been developing hydrogen fuel cell technology almost that long," said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. "There's no better way to generate excitement for a turning point in automotive history than with a film that celebrated the possibilities of the future."
While the Mirai represents Toyota's vision of the future, the automaker couldn't resist having a bit of fun with the Back to the Future past. Marty McFly's dream truck was a tricked out Toyota truck true fans will recognize. Listen closely in tomorrow's video installment for a clue where a Toyota Tacoma re-creation of that famous 4X4 will be headed when the future arrives on October 21. (Hint, there's more than one place.)
"While there are a lot of brands and activations that are celebrating the Back to the Future milestone, Toyota stands apart for their nod to the future and the past with the auto technology depicted in the movies," said Bob Gale, Back to the Future co-creator and producer. "When Toyota approached us about helping tell a bigger story about the future and innovation with the Mirai, we loved the direction - and who can resist Marty's retro Toyota truck?"
Toyota's Back to the Future partnership will crescendo on Oct. 20 as the clock nears midnight toward the futuristic milestone. With a party ready for the fourth dimension, digital activations and physical displays, Toyota will welcome the future to California with the Mirai on-sale launch.
Toyota's "Fueled by Everything" campaign was created with creative agency partner Droga5, while the Back to the Future Tacoma elements drew on Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles expertise. To stay on top of all of Toyota Back to the Future activities, visit www.toyota.com/outatime.
ABOUT THE BACK TO THE FUTURE 30TH ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY
Experience the future all over again with the Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray & DVD! Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present and future, setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space-time continuum! From filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, this timeless collection includes a new bonus disc with over two hours of extra features such as "Doc Brown Saves the World!", an all-new original short starring Christopher Lloyd. Hashtag: #BTTF2015 Facebook: https: www.facebook.com/BTTF Website: www.BackToTheFuture.com
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 - and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal's consumer product and digital licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features and Sprout Channel. This dedicated division is also responsible for film, home entertainment and television promotions. UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
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