The “Malcolm in the Middle” revival series will see Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield reprising their roles as the Wilkerson family — but Erik Per Sullivan will not be returning as Dewey, with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark instead recast as the character. After starring in the original ABC series from 2000 to 2006, Sullivan stepped away from acting in 2010, at the age of 19. For that reason, “Malcolm” fans weren’t entirely surprised that he wouldn’t be joining for new episodes. However, that retirement doesn’t mean that Sullivan wasn’t invited, says Cranston.
“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 said, previewing the revival in a conversation on the Fly on the Wall podcast hosted by Dana Carvey and David Spade.
Sullivan, now 33, has largely retreated from the spotlight of the TV industry since becoming an adult. But Cranston provided some insight onto what the former child star is up to these days.
“He’s actually going to Harvard,” Cranston told Carvey and Spade. “He’s really, really smart, and he’s getting his master’s at Harvard right now. He said, ‘Oh God, no, I haven’t acted since I was 9 or something. So I’m not into it.’”
The “Malcolm in the Middle” revival will be a four-episode event on Disney+, produced by Disney Branded Television. Muniz posted a behind-the-scenes photo with Cranson and Kaczmarek to commemorate the start of production in April.
