Posted in: Movies | Tagged: back to the future, Back to the Future Part II, film, mattel, michael j fox, toys

VIDEO: Mattel's Back To The Future Hoverboards Won't Hover, But Definitely Sound Like Ones From The Movie

So we already know that Mattel is finally making hoverboards that look just like the ones from Back to the Future: Part II, and we've already had some time to get used to the disappointment that it's not really going to hover, but a new behind the scenes look at the making of the new toy left me somewhat more underwhelmed than ever.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqW45ifIcNc&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

The big selling point, according to Mattel Marketing Manager Scott Neitlich, seems to be that the board can sense motion and will make "real" hoverboard sounds when it's doing its "gliding across most flat surfaces" thing (but not every adult will be able to stand on it either). The Mattel guys spend the bulk of the ten minute interview talking excitedly about the real ("official") sounds from the movie that will be coming out of the board and how they're not even using traditional speakers to release the sounds. Amazing technology that I'm sure many people worked very hard on, but it doesn't really excite me all that much. Then again, I'm not exactly the target audience for this piece of movie memorabilia either.

At this stage in the game, Mattel doesn't even have a finished product yet. What they show Behind the Marquee is a "looks like model", straight from New York's Toy Fair. This shows the approximate size and design of the final product without any of its functionality. "We're still working on how exactly that's gonna work," according to Neitlich.

But don't fret. "It's gonna be perfect, it's gonna be what we wanted, it's gonna be the hoverboard we've been waiting for!" Neitlich exclaims.

Well, I'm not sure if that's not overstating it a bit, but I can only imagine that countless fans are still chomping at the bit to get their hands on their own hoverboard, however functionally limited it may be, so here's how to get one: Hoverboards can be pre-ordered between now and March 20th on Matty Collector, priced at $129, and your order will include the full size prop replica that doesn't really hover or support your weight, as well as a 6' accessory piece so your Mattel action figures can more convincingly use a hoverboard than you ever will ever be able to.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!