Michael J. Fox to appear at Southampton movie event celebrating 'Back to the Future'

Michael J. Fox will make a special in-person appearance on Sunday for a conversation following the 40th anniversary screening of "Back to the Future" at the Southampton Playhouse.

Fox, 64, who starred as Marty McFly in the 1985 blockbuster, has largely retreated from public events and acting due to complications from Parkinson's disease. After the 6 p.m. IMAX screening of the time-traveling classic, the star will reflect on the film's legacy, his career and the Michael J. Fox Foundation's work on Parkinson's research.

"It's a thrill and an honor," Eric Kohn, artistic director of the Southampton Playhouse, said in an interview. He called Fox's participation an exciting opportunity for audiences to hear from someone who has "made a difference in so many lives."

Kohn noted that Fox's portrayal of McFly has resonated across generations and that his advocacy work has further cemented his legacy. 

"He's a legend, and this movie has resonated for so many generations to a large degree because of his performance. He also became a really inspirational figure these last few years," Kohn said. "I think, as a result of that, the power of the movie has become even more profound and resonant for people over time, to have him in the room to speak about this movie on the occasion of its 40th anniversary."

Fox, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, owned property on Long Island before selling his Quogue home in 2021. The actor was in the area on Saturday, attending Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld's annual Good+ Foundation Summer Dinner at their East Hampton Home, according to reports.

The upcoming "Back to the Future" screening is sold out and is part of Playhouse's " '80s Blockbuster Essentials" series, an effort to bring classic films back to the big screen. 

"Our theater is built around the idea that we can celebrate the past and the present of movies simultaneously," Kohn said. "The 1980s were a really exciting moment for the evolution of the blockbuster in Hollywood storytelling."

The series' lineup also includes James Cameron's "The Terminator" (1984) on Aug. 11, with a post-screening Q&A featuring producer Gale Anne Hurd, and Steven Spielberg's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) on Aug. 21. All screenings will begin at 6 p.m.

A representative for Fox said he would not respond to requests for comment regarding the event.