The highly anticipated reboot of Malcolm in the Middle has been announced, though not all original cast members will be returning.
Originally airing in 2000, the series starred Bryan Cranston before his iconic role in Breaking Bad, alongside Frankie Muniz as Malcolm.
The show chronicled the life of Malcolm Wilkerson, a teenager dealing with the ups and downs of adolescence, alongside his parents Lois and Hal and brothers Reese, Francis, Dewey, and Jamie.
The reboot is set to premiere in 2026, featuring a storyline where an adult Malcolm reunites with his siblings for their parents’ 40th wedding anniversary.
Though many original actors are slated to return for the four-episode revival, one notable star is opting out.
Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role, shared with the New York Post that Erik Per Sullivan will not be returning.
Muniz, now 39, explained, “He’s very happy in the life that he’s created outside of the entertainment world.
“And he made the decision that he didn’t want to get back into it — which we completely respect.”
Having transitioned into a career as a racing driver, Muniz mentioned they discussed recasting Dewey with Per Sullivan’s approval.
He said: “We had his blessing from day one to have the role be in the show and recast it. So I hope people aren’t too upset that he didn’t come back, but it was by his choice.”
So who will be stepping into the role of Dewey?
Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, known for roles in Fargo and The Expanse, will take on the part of Dewey.
Muniz shared, “We started talking about doing the reboot over ten years ago. And then Bryan Cranston really kind of took the lead in pushing it. But early on, we sent out an email, me and Bryan, to everybody kind of saying like, ‘Hey, if this happened, would you guys be interested?’ Just to gauge.”
“And we knew early on that Erik was not going to be apart of it,” Muniz added.
Reflecting on his transition to a racing career, Muniz remarked, “I had only acted since I was eight. So eight to 22. It’s all I knew. I loved it — but I also knew that I wanted to try something else.”