Bob Gale, co-creator of Back to the Future, hopes Universal Studios will restore the classic attraction Back to the Future: The Ride. He believes that if the theme park licensing for The Simpsons changes, the old attraction might have a chance to return, but Universal Studios has not currently announced any such plans.
Gale discussed this concept while promoting his new book, Back to the Future: The Complete Script. Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, and The Simpsons' licensing rights are widely believed to expire in 2028, meaning theme park rights for the franchise could potentially revert. However, neither Disney nor Universal Studios has announced an end to their partnership.
Back to the Future: The Ride opened at Universal Studios Florida in 1991, later expanding to the Hollywood and Japan parks. Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson reprised their roles as Doc Brown and Biff, respectively, while visitors rode simulated DeLorean cars through the Age of Dinosaurs, the Ice Age, and the future Hill Valley. The two U.S. installations closed in 2007 and were replaced by The Simpsons Ride the following year.
Matt Selman, showrunner of The Simpsons, said he would be surprised if Universal Studios lost Springfield, while emphasizing that he is not privy to the details of the negotiations. Gale had previously attempted to adapt footage from the old attraction into a 4DX cinema experience, but was hindered by licensing issues. Currently, the project's return remains merely the creators' wish and a hypothesis based on potential changes in licensing.