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Christopher Lloyd Reflects on Back to the Future, Wants a Reboot: It Would Have to Be an “Extraordinary Concept” (Exclusive)

Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Michael J. Fox
Christopher Lloyd reflected on his iconic Back to the Future character, Dr. Emmett Brown, the idea of a reboot, and more in an interview with Us WeeklyMireya Acierto/FilmMagic

Great Scott! Christopher Lloyd is ready to to slip back into Dr. Emmett Brown’s threads. The legendary actor reveals to Us Weekly that he hopes a Back to the Future reboot will happen down the line.

Lloyd, 77, starred opposite Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) in the 1985 movie and went on to reprise his role in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). He and his former costars commemorated Back to the Future Day on Wednesday, and went to a special NYC screening of the adventure sci-fi. (In the second movie, Marty travels to Oct. 21, 2015.)

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox Back to the future
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future MCA/Universal Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

“Who imagined that 30 years later we’d be celebrating the way we have been this week? I’ve met so many people along the way who tell stories about Back to the Future, how profoundly it affected them,” Lloyd tells Us. “I don’t know how much further it can go, but it’s an extraordinarily unique experience. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Related: PHOTOS: Stars rewear iconic movie costumes

He adds of a possible reboot: “I would love to. It would have to be sort of an extraordinary concept to go into No. 4, but if somebody came up with it like [screenwriter] Bob Gale or [director] Robert Zemeckis and it came to be — I would love to be the Doc again.”

The Taxi star is best known for playing the lovable mad scientist, but these days he’s a mad villain on Cyberchase. The PBS children’s series is now in its 10th season. “The characters are interesting, the writing is great,” he says, “so there are no minuses. I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

Related: PHOTOS: Best and worst movie remakes

Christopher Lloyd
MCA/Universal Pictures/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Check out the rest of Lloyd’s Q&A in our Now and Then series:

US WEEKLY: Do you have a favorite movie from the franchise?

CHRISTOPHER LLOYD: No. 3. Back to the Future III. The horseback riding and all that kind of myth about the Old West. And Doc had a romance in it. It was just a lot of fun to shoot and it ends on a very positive note.

US: Do you have a favorite scene with Michael J. Fox?

CL: Certainly in the beginning of Back to the Future when we’re in the parking lot, and we see the DeLorean descend out of the truck and the steam and putting Einstein [the dog] in. All of that scene between Marty and Doc is very memorable because it was our first scene together in the shooting of the film.

US: What was it like to drive the DeLorean?

CL: The DeLorean, even today it looks futuristic…It’s not the greatest operating vehicle. The engineering doesn’t live up to the looks of the car, but it was perfect for the film.

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox western
Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future III Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

US: Marty had the hoverboard. Is there a specific gadget Doc had that you liked best?

CL: There’s the flux capacitor. And I built this enormous contraption in Back to the Future III in the 1880s that would produce one cube of ice at a time.

US: You put prosthetics on to look older for the role. How long did that take to do?

CL: With the wig, the prosthetics when I wore them, and the general makeup, it could be two-and-a-half, three hours.

US: Do you have any memorabilia from set?

CL: No. I have a shirt from Back to the Future III, but it’s rarely worn.

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