Actor joins the cast of the four-hour 'Mirabilis'

Christopher Lloyd, who played the genius Dr. Emmett Brown in the "Back to the Future" films, will take a more magical turn on the Sci Fi Channel.

The three-time Emmy winner will play an elf on the network's upcoming miniseries "Mirabilis."

The four-hour fantasy adventure minseries is set in a magical, distant land fueled by the all-powerful sorcery-grade metal known as bloodsteel. As the substance starts to dwindle, the evil warlord Dragon Eye wreaks havoc to control all resources, but is faced by opposition in the form of four ordinary citizens brought here by an ancient prophecy.

Lloyd, 69, will play Tesselink, a respected senior elf and accomplished master of bloodsteel sorcery. With his help, his granddaughter Perfidia (Natassia Malthe, "Elektra") and a band of knights, including protagonist John Serrogoth ("JAG's" David James Elliot) try to foil Dragon Eye by seeking the Crucible, the fabled source of all bloodsteel, before the dark forces destroy Mirabilis.

Lloyd is also best known for his role as the wacky Reverend Jim Ignatowski on "Taxi." He lends his voice to the animated "Fly Me to the Moon," in theaters Friday, Aug. 15, and to the upcoming adaptation of the Kate DiCamillo book, "The Tale of Despereaux."