Although nothing has been officially confirmed, there is constant speculation about a potential remake of Back to the Future, and here are 10 actors who would be perfect to cast as Doc Brown in the film. Doc Brown is one of Back 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 a Back to the Future remake, acting as a worthy successor to Christopher Lloyd.

Christopher Lloyd’s performance as Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy 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 in order to pull the character off. So, here are 10 actors who fit these qualifications.

10

Jim Carrey

Sonic the Hedgehog, The Mask

When discussions of a Back to the Future remake 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 the Back to the Future remake.

Although a Back to the Future remake would imply remakes of the two sequels, Jim Carrey is perfect for this, as he has already appeared in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie 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.

9

Robert Downey Jr.

Iron Man, Oppenheimer

Another popular pick for Doc Brown in a Back to the Future remake 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 in Back to the Future is 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 miniseries The Sympathizer, in which he perfectly plays four distinct characters, each of which is coated in all kinds of makeup, wigs, and prosthetics.

8

Colman 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 like Rustin, The Color Purple, and Ma 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. Rustin takes place in the 1960s, Candyman takes place in the modern day, Fear the Walking Dead takes place in an alternate version of the 2010s, and The Color Purple takes place from the 1900s to the 1940s. Domingo was fantastic in all of these time periods, and the Back to the Future remake can show off his talents in a few more decades.

7

Bill 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 on Saturday Night Live has proven that he 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.

6

Jim Cummings

Thunder Road, The Last Stop in Yuma County

Another interesting casting choice for Doc Brown in the Back to the Future remake would be actor Jim Cummings. Jim Cummings is an actor and director who has appeared in films like Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow, and The Last Stop in Yuma County, with him also appearing in popular TV shows like Barry and The 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 the Back to the Future trilogy, 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.

5

Jamie 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 like Django Unchained, villains in movies like Baby Driver, and comedic wildcards in movies like Horrible Bosses and They Cloned Tyrone.

Since Jamie Foxx has mostly stuck to comedies in the past few years, it would make sense to include him in the Back to the Future remake, as the movie is a comedy at its heart. However, his roles in more serious films like Ray and Collateral highlight that he 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.

4

Glenn Howerton

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, BlackBerry

Glenn Howerton is another unique choice for the role of Doc Brown in Back 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 sitcom It’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 in 2023’s Blackberry, with Glenn Howerton garnering some awards season buzz for his role in the film. Letting the actor take a swing at Doc Brown in the Back to the Future remake would allow him to further expand his range while also bringing some major starpower to the film.

3

William 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 potential Back to the Future remake, building off of some of his other performances. While the actor has appeared in some major movies like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Midsommar, he is most famous for his role as Chidi on the sitcom The Good Place. In The 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 original Back 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.

2

Jack 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 the Back to the Future remake. 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 in School of Rock also shows that he can act alongside much younger actors, although Marty McFly is a few grades older than the School of Rock kids.

Jack Black is known for his roles in family-friendly comedic adventure movies, with him appearing in the Jumanji series, Goosebumps, Nacho Libre, and more. The Back to the Future series 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 in Back to the Future will only help the film.

1

John 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 how weird Doc Brown and Marty McFly’s friendship is, with the decision to cast him in the Back to the Future remake bringing this joke full circle. However, Mulaney is a great pick for reasons far beyond that.

John Mulaney’s recent film roles in movies like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse shows that he can maintain the energy of his stand-up comedy while bringing a beautiful layer of emotion. Mulaney’s role in The Bear pushes 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 the Back to the Future remake.