The Malcolm in the Middle revival series is officially happening with nearly all original cast members reprising their roles - except for fan-favorite younger brother Dewey. Erik Per Sullivan, who originally portrayed the character, won't participate in the reboot, with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark stepping into the role instead.
Bryan Cranston, who played the family patriarch Hal, shared this news during an appearance on Dana Carvey and David Spade's Fly on the Wall podcast. "I reached out to Erik and told him, 'Great news - we're bringing the show back!'" Cranston recalled. "He responded, 'That's amazing!' But when I said we'd love to have him return, he immediately said, 'Oh no, count me out - though I'm genuinely happy for you.'"
The former child star, now 33, has an excellent reason for declining the opportunity. "He's currently attending Harvard," Cranston revealed proudly. "He's an incredibly bright guy working on his master's degree there. He basically said, 'Acting hasn't been part of my life since childhood - it's just not my path anymore.'"
After the show concluded its original run (2002-2006), Sullivan left acting entirely at age 19 to explore other passions - a decision that clearly led him to impressive academic achievements rather than Hollywood. The returning cast includes Cranston alongside Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, and Christopher Masterson.
Filming recently concluded last month, though Disney+ has yet to announce an official premiere date for the four-episode revival series.
