Mattel To Officially Release The ‘Back To The Future’ Hoverboard

 

We might still be some time off street-engulfing holographic 3D advertisements, flux capacitors, flying cars and self-drying clothing, but there’s more to Back To The Future’s imagining of 2015 that caught the eye. How about the self-lacing Nike MAG sneakers, the DeLorean’s home energy reactor Mr. Fusion, and the then-and-now-iconic Mattel hoverboard featured throughout the BTTF sequels?

Such innovations were only pipe dreams when conjured up by the minds of the films’ producers back in 1989 (seemingly right after they slipped and hit their heads on the bathroom sink). But thanks to Nike, toy-maker Mattel and scientists at Bristol’s Robotics Laboratory; all three are either in the pipeline, soon-Unfortunately, the board also won't work on waterto-become-reality or even already here. Last year, Nike manufactured and auctioned off a limited-edition run of Marty McFly’s Nike MAG sneakers to raise money for Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Research charity. Meanwhile, Gizmodo last week reported on a robot that could power itself through consuming waste matter, similar to the processes used by Doc Brown’s fancy gizmo. Now, Mattel is preparing a 1:1 replica of the hover board used by Marty in BTTF 2 and 3 that will include “multiple whooshing sounds” and “will glide over most surfaces”. The toy manufacturer will be taking orders for the prop through March 1 – March 20 of this year.

The gimmicky factor of “multiple whooshing sounds” might have already implied the fact that, like the Nike MAG’s, the hoverboard won’t work exactly as it does in the film – we’re still some time away from actual hoverboards unfortunately. Though with Mattel promising the board will be “high-cost” and a minimum number of orders are needed to go into production, it certainly implies a top-quality, movie-accurate and fan-favourite replica of the real thing. Prices will be announced later this month for a Christmas 2012 release so get saving, quick! We know we are.