We talk to X-Men series star Lucas Till about stepping into an iconic role on CBS' new MacGyver.

MacGyveris back this Friday with an all new series on CBS.

Was action hero something you always wanted to do when you became an actor?

Yes, that was exactly.

People would ask me that question so many times.

You just finally gave me the correct answer.

Yes, that was it.

When I was a kid, I think I wanted to be Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Most actors are like, I want to be more like Marlon Brando.

But then I grew up and my interests were different.

When I was a little kid, I just wanted to be an action hero.

Just doing them period.

George got punched in the face.

I got a knee to the side that I wasnt expecting and it hurt my ribs for a while.

Youre hurting yourself over and over again.

Its kind of fun though.

Its not kind of fun.

It is what I wanted to do.

Theres a larger ensemble cast in thisMacGyverso how much is he still a lone wolf?

Well, hes the leader of the group because he goes out.

Jack looks after his back and Riley takes care of the overseeing of the technological stuff.

Thornton is the boss who cant control us.

I guess thats kind of like the lone wolf.

Hell go out and maybe possibly do his own thing.

Yeah, but it still is an ensemble show.

I dont think anyone could afford to send us to all these different countries.

Weve done it all in Atlanta.

What has Atlanta doubled for?

Oh, of course, it helps.

Have they updated MacGyvers education, how he knows all this stuff?

Yeah, for sure.

We know he can invent things, but is the improvising weapons in fights more new to this MacGyver?

Oh yeah, oh yeah, and hes also fighting in general.

A lot of times, Im running out and accidentally clotheslining a guy.

His approach to everything is one constant throughline.

Is the explaining of how each invention works a challenge for you to memorize and deliver?

Do you look at any of the old action movies differently now that youve experienced it?

Well, Wesley Snipes had to slow his kicks down, he was so fast.

Now I get it.

A lot of stuff you think, Oh man, go for it.

You discover new things, like any job.

When you carried the missile over your shoulder, did you feel like MacGyver in that moment?

I dont remember the episode, but theres a picture of Richard Dean Anderson carrying the missile.

That is the MacGyver shot, isnt it?

Oh yeah, exactly.

That was the goal.

That was the intention of it.

Youll see how it plays out in the episode.

I know theyre trying to get him, but have you ever met Richard Dean Anderson?

I havent met him, no.

When you do, what would you ask him?

Man, how did you do all this?

Howd you keep up?

He was doing a lot of the stunts.

you could tell in the episodes.

I know its not all of them.

He was doing all that stuff.

He carried the show.

It was just him every time.

I just want to ask him how he dealt with it all.

How long did you have to shoot the speedboat chase in the pilot?

That was a night.

No, it was several days actually now that I think about it.

It depends, between stunts and what we did.