Quick summary
- Christopher Lloyd says he was stunned when he learned Michael J. Fox would replace Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly.
- The two actors spoke for Interview magazine, as reported by Female First on 28 October 2026.
- Lloyd, described as 88, admits his first thought was that he would have to redo weeks of work.
- Fox, described as 65, says Lloyd’s welcome made him feel safe on set.
Christopher Lloyd has described the moment he found out that Michael J. Fox was taking over the lead role in Back to the Future, and it was not an easy night. In a conversation with Fox for Interview magazine, reported by Female First, the actor said the news left him shocked before it left him relieved.
The announcement in the car park
Lloyd played Emmett “Doc” Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, which ran between 1985 and 1990, according to Female First. He told Fox he could still picture the evening before Fox’s first day. The crew had been shooting overnight for several days in a shopping mall, so lunch fell at around one in the morning.
During that break in the car park, he recalled, someone said an announcement would follow the meal. Everyone gathered around one of the trailers afterwards. Steven Spielberg, Lloyd believes, stood up and told the cast that Fox would take over as Marty the next morning from Eric Stoltz, though Lloyd joked that he could not immediately recall Stoltz’s name.
Why it felt like starting again
Lloyd was candid about his reaction. “That was pretty stunning news,” he said, explaining that he had given close to everything in every moment filmed over six weeks. He had put a great deal of energy into the performance and, by his own account, was still settling into it.
His first thought, he said, was that he would have to do it all again and wondered how he could. Female First describes him as frustrated by the prospect of reshooting scenes. That is a human detail in a story usually told from the other side, the casting change itself, rather than from the co-star who had to adjust.
The change that worked
Looking back, Lloyd told Fox that the arrival of a new Marty made it “a whole different game.” He singled out Fox’s spontaneity, humour, smartness and intelligence. In his telling, everything ultimately worked out, and he now sees Fox as the right fit for the role.
Fox on being welcomed
Fox, for his part, said that on arriving he decided the one person he really needed to connect with was Doc. If the Doc and Marty relationship worked, he reasoned, he would be safe.
He thanked Lloyd for being open to him in difficult circumstances. Lloyd had to redo his work and find a new way into the character, Fox noted, yet still welcomed him. Fox also praised Lloyd’s approach, saying he can immerse himself in a role without damaging his relationships with other actors. In Fox’s words, Lloyd lets others do their process while he does his, “and then magic happens.”
What happens next
Female First’s report is based on the Interview magazine exchange and does not mention any new project for the pair. Readers who want the full conversation can look for it in Interview magazine. For more on the actors and films behind the stories, browse our Celebrities and Movies sections.
Frequently asked questions
Who replaced Eric Stoltz in Back to the Future?
Michael J. Fox took over the role of Marty McFly from Eric Stoltz, according to Christopher Lloyd’s account in Interview magazine.
How did Christopher Lloyd react to the casting change?
He called it stunning news. He was worried about redoing six weeks of work, but he now says Fox’s spontaneity and humour made the film better.
Who played Doc Brown in the trilogy?
Christopher Lloyd played Emmett “Doc” Brown in all three Back to the Future films, made between 1985 and 1990.
