Summary
Although nothing has been officially confirmed, there is constant speculation about a potential remake ofBack to the Future, and here are 10 actors who would be perfect to cast as Doc Brown in the film. Doc Brown is one ofBack to the Future’s two main characters, and with him being the zanier counterpart to Marty McFly, nailing the wacky inventor is important. So, here are 10 actors who could nail a performance of Doc Brown in aBack to the Futureremake, acting as a worthy successor to Christopher Lloyd.
Christopher Lloyd’s performance as Doc Brown in theBack to the Futuretrilogy is one of the most praised comedic performances of all time, mostly due to how much he had to do. Although he was in his 40s at the time,Lloyd had to play Doc Brown at multiple different ages, with Marty meeting his 1985 and 1955 iterations in the first film alone. Lloyd’s performance is also known for its immensely high energy, something that any modern actor will have to have to pull the character off. So, here are 10 actors who fit these qualifications.
10Jim Carrey
Sonic the Hedgehog,The Mask
When discussions of aBack to the Futureremake come up, one of the names that almost always gets said when discussing Doc Brown’s recast is Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey is an actor and comedian who is known for his energy, meaning that he can bring the manic and zany performance that Christopher Lloyd defined Doc Brown with for theBack to the Futureremake.
Although aBack to the Futureremake would imply remakes of the two sequels, Jim Carrey is perfect for this, as he has already appeared in theSonic the Hedgehogmovie trilogy. On top of that,Jim Carrey plays Dr. Robotnik, a comedic mad scientist, in all of these films, showing that he could most likely pull off the similar character of Doc Brown. Carrey is 62 years old, meaning that he is a bit older than Lloyd was. However, he should still be able to pull off old and young versions of Doc Brown.
Recasting Marty McFly For A Back To The Future Remake: 10 Perfect Actors That Aren’t Tom Holland
While many fans have called for Tom Holland to play Marty McFly in a Back to the Future remake, he isn’t necessarily the best choice for the role.
9Robert Downey Jr.
Iron Man,Oppenheimer
Another popular pick for Doc Brown in aBack to the Futureremake is Robert Downey Jr., and he is another fantastic pick for the role. The actor is no stranger to playing geniuses, with his career being defined by his performances as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as Sherlock Holmes. On top of that,most of Robert Downy Jr.’s roles have a comedic slant to them, something that is essential for Doc Brown.
One of the most important parts of the performances inBack to the Futureis that each actor can play different versions of the same character under a lot of makeup. Luckily, Robert Downey Jr. has shown that he can pull this off through his role in HBO’s miniseriesThe Sympathizer, in which he perfectly plays four distinct characters, each of which is coated in all kinds of makeup, wigs, and prosthetics.
8Colman Domingo
Rustin,The Color Purple
Colman Domingo is an actor who has exploded in popularity over the past few years, with him starring in movies likeRustin,The Color Purple, andMa Rainey’s Black Bottom. Throughout Domingo’s filmography, he has proven that he has a vast range, with him playing all kinds of different characters across different genres and time periods.
Colman Domingo’s roles in different period pieces show that he can nail an important aspect of Doc Brown, as he knows how to tailor his performances to fit entirely different eras.Rustintakes place in the 1960s,Candymantakes place in the modern day,Fear the Walking Deadtakes place in an alternate version of the 2010s, andThe Color Purpletakes place from the 1900s to the 1940s. Domingo was fantastic in all of these time periods, and theBack to the Futureremake can show off his talents in a few more decades.
7Bill Hader
Barry,Superbad
Bill Hader is another fantastic actor who has shown that he can pull off a wide range of roles, but despite him excelling in dramas, he is still most famous for his comedic parts. Thus, Bill Hader would be able to pull off a fantastic version of Doc Brown, following in the footsteps of Christopher Lloyd. Hader is one of the highest-energy performers on this list, something that is needed to get the character right.
Bill Hader’s time onSaturday Night Livehas proven thathe can maintain this comedy and intensity while doing voices, impressions, and being covered in all kinds of makeup. Christopher Lloyd’s background in live theater undoubtedly contributed to the over-the-top performance he gave as Doc Brown, and Hader’s live background could help him pull off a similar tone in the remake.
6Jim Cummings
Another interestingcasting choice for Doc Brown in theBack to the Futureremakewould be actor Jim Cummings. Jim Cummings is an actor and director who has appeared in films likeThunder Road,The Wolf of Snow Hollow, andThe Last Stop in Yuma County, with him also appearing in popular TV shows likeBarryandThe Handmaid’s Tale.
One of the signature traits of Jim Cummings' performances is that he plays stressed, high-strung characters who typically explode at some point in the film, allowing him to show off his theatrical energy. Throughout theBack to the Futuretrilogy, Doc Brown is constantly stressed about destroying the space-time continuum, leading to his outbursts. Cummings would be able to pull off this as well as the warmth that the character occasionally shows and his deadpan comedy.
5Jamie Foxx
They Cloned Tyrone,Django Unchained
Actor Jamie Foxx has had a career that shows just how much range the actor has, and his filmography has proven that he can be a perfect Doc Brown. Foxx has played calm and cool characters in movies likeDjango Unchained, villains in movies likeBaby Driver, and comedic wildcards in movies likeHorrible BossesandThey Cloned Tyrone.
Since Jamie Foxx has mostly stuck to comedies in the past few years, it would make sense to include him in theBack to the Futureremake, as the movie is a comedy at its heart. However, his roles in more serious films likeRayandCollateralhighlight thathe could pull off the more emotional moments of the trilogy. Foxx has become known for his energy and comedic voice even in his talk show appearances, something that could make him a perfect Doc Brown.
4Glenn Howerton
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,BlackBerry
Glenn Howerton is another unique choice for the role of Doc Brown inBack to the Future, with it further expanding him into the world of film. Howerton is most well known for playing the role of Dennis on the long-running sitcomIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Throughout the series, Dennis proves to be the most manic and angry character in the gang, with this zany energy allowing the actor to match Christopher Lloyd’s original performance.
Although Howerton has appeared in films before, he had his big movie break in2023’sBlackberry, with Glenn Howerton garnering some awards season buzzfor his role in the film. Letting the actor take a swing at Doc Brown in theBack to the Futureremake would allow him to further expand his range while also bringing some major starpower to the film.
3William Jackson Harper
The Good Place, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
William Jackson Harper would also be a fantastic replacement for Christopher Lloyd in the potentialBack to the Futureremake, building off of some of his other performances. While the actor has appeared in some major movies likeAnt-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaandMidsommar, he is most famous for his role as Chidi on the sitcomThe Good Place.InThe Good Place, Chidi is an energetic, high-strung genius, with these traits matching up with those of Doc Brown.
On top of his performance history, William Jackson Harper is 44 years old as of the writing of this article, putting him around the same age that Christopher Lloyd was in the originalBack to the Future. Because of this, the actor could convincingly pull off older and younger versions of himself, allowing him to play Doc Brown in all kinds of different time periods.
2Jack Black
School of Rock, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jack Black is one of the most famous comedic actors working today, and he would be a huge name to add to theBack to the Futureremake. Like many of the other actors on this list, Jack Black is known for his energy, with him always stealing the show in whatever role he is in. Jack Black’s role inSchool of Rockalso shows that he can act alongside much younger actors, although Marty McFly is a few grades older than theSchool of Rockkids.
Jack Black is known for his roles in family-friendly comedic adventure movies, with him appearing in theJumanjiseries,Goosebumps,Nacho Libre, and more. TheBack to the Futureseries could fit right alongside these types of movies, adding another great blockbuster to Jack Black’s filmography. Jack Black is universally beloved, and appearing as Doc Brown inBack to the Futurewill only help the film.
The 10 Best Doc Brown Quotes In The Back To The Future Trilogy, Ranked
As a character expertly portrayed by Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future, Doc Brown had some of the series' most memorable and iconic lines.
1John Mulaney
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Bear
A strange but interesting pick for Doc Brown would be none other than the stand-up comedian John Mulaney. John Mulaney famously had a stand-up bit about howweird Doc Brown and Marty McFly’s friendship is,with the decision to cast him in theBack to the Futureremake bringing this joke full circle. However, Mulaney is a great pick for reasons far beyond that.
John Mulaney’s recent film roles in movies likeSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseshows that he can maintain the energy of his stand-up comedy while bringing a beautiful layer of emotion. Mulaney’s role inThe Bearpushes his range even further, proving that he can play nerdy characters, something that would be beneficial for Doc Brown. On top of that, Mulaney is in his 40s, further cementing the notion that he would be a great pick for Doc Brown in theBack to the Futureremake.
Back to the Future
Cast
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
