Bryan Cranston has disclosed the reason why Erik Per Sullivan, who portrayed Dewey in “Malcolm in the Middle,” will not be returning for the show’s revival.
After 20 years, the popular noughties series is slated to return in December 2025. Filming for the revival has already been completed.
Fans can look forward to the return of familiar faces for the 4-part miniseries. Bryan Cranston, known for “Breaking Bad,” will reprise his role as dad Hal, Frankie Muniz will return as Malcolm, Justin Berfield as Reese, and Jane Kaczmarek as mom Lois.
Christopher Masterson will also appear once again as eldest son Francis.
However, the character of Dewey, the youngest family member, will be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark. Erik Per Sullivan, the original actor, declined the opportunity to reprise his role.
Now 33, Sullivan hasn’t participated in any production since the 2010 film “Twelve,” which also featured 50 Cent. During his time on “Malcolm in the Middle,” he was just 18.
In a conversation on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast, Cranston, a four-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, explained why Sullivan opted out of returning to the role he played from 2000 to 2006.
The 69-year-old actor recounted his discussion with Sullivan: “I talked to Erik and I said, ‘hey, we got the show! It’s going to come back’. He goes, ‘oh, that’s fantastic!’, and I go, ‘yeah, so we’re looking forward to having you back’. He goes, ‘oh, no, no, I don’t want to do it. But it’s fantastic’,” Cranston shared with Carvey and Spade.
“He’s actually going to Harvard.”
Co-host David Spade remarked that Sullivan is ‘a normal person now’, prompting Cranston to respond: “Well, I don’t think – he’s not normal, because he’s really – not in my circle normal – he’s really, really smart and he’s getting, I think he’s getting his masters at Harvard right now.
“He said ‘oh, God no, I haven’t acted since I was nine or something, so I’m not into it’.”
Jane Kaczmarek, who played Sullivan’s on-screen mother, has also previously commented on his decision.
According to the BBC, she assured fans that Sullivan is ‘very, very well’ but has simply moved away from acting.
“He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14,” she noted. “He wasn’t interested in acting, at all.”
She expressed her admiration for Sullivan’s choice to leave the entertainment industry to pursue his own aspirations. “Because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world,” she added. “It’s not for everyone.”