The Wilkerson family is getting ready for a reunion in the upcoming Disney+ revival of Malcolm in the Middle — but there will be one familiar face missing.
It’s been over 25 years since the sitcom about an average, dysfunctional American family premiered on Fox in January 2000. Malcolm in the Middle followed boy genius Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) as he navigated life with two eccentric parents, Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), and four wild-card brothers: Francis (Christopher Masterson), Reese (Justin Berfield), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) and Jamie (played by twins James and Lukas Rodriguez).
The family comedy eventually ended in May 2006 after seven seasons and 151 episodes, though viewers were left on a cliffhanger. The series abruptly concluded with Lois’ shocking pregnancy news and Malcolm just starting his freshman year at Harvard.
After years of reboot rumblings, Disney+ announced a four-episode revival of Malcolm in the Middle in December 2024.
“Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability,” Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, said in a statement, per Deadline. “Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again.”
Most of the original cast members are slated to return for the limited run. However, Per Sullivan will not be among them. The actor portrayed Malcolm’s younger brother Dewey, known for his smarts and wit. Those memorable traits, though, will now be brought back to life by a different actor.
So why did Dewey get recast in the Malcolm in the Middle revival? Here’s everything to know about the switch-up from the original show and where the actor Erik Per Sullivan is now.
What is the Malcolm in the Middle revival about?
The Malcolm in the Middle revival will consist of four episodes and follow Malcolm and his daughter as they are “drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party,” according to a press release.
Who will be in the Malcolm in the Middle revival?
Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield will all reprise their roles in the Malcolm in the Middle revival, Variety reported.
Newcomers include Anthony Timpano, who will play Malcolm’s youngest brother, Jamie, and Vaughan Murrae, who will portray Malcolm’s youngest sibling, Kelly. As fans may remember, Lois was pregnant with her sixth child in the 2006 series finale.
Malcolm’s daughter, Leah, will be played by Keeley Karsten. Meanwhile, Kiana Madeira will portray his “charming and opinionated” girlfriend Tristan who “is way out of his league,” per Variety. It’s unclear if she is also Leah’s mom.
Who is playing Dewey in the Malcolm in the Middle revival?
Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will step into the role of Dewey — Malcolm’s musically gifted and lovable younger brother, originally played by Erik Per Sullivan.
Ellsworth-Clark has been acting since 2013, earning his first credits in The Right Kind of Wrong and the TV series Hell on Wheels. He went on to appear in four episodes of Wynonna Earp.
After landing minor parts in other projects, such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Fargo, Ellsworth-Clark got cast in his first lead role for the Malcolm in the Middle revival.
Why was Dewey recast in the Malcolm in the Middle revival?
After the original Malcolm in the Middle ended in 2006, Per Sullivan continued acting for a few more years before seemingly stopping altogether. According to IMDb, his last on-screen appearance was in 2010 when he played Timmy in Twelve.
Since then, Per Sullivan appears to have left Hollywood and is maintaining a private life. In April 2024, Kaczmarek shared a rare update about her on-screen son during an interview with Malcolm France at the Paris Manga Sci-fi Show by TGS.
The actress explained that Per Sullivan’s interest in acting changed over time, and he shifted his focus to his education.
“He’s very very well,” she said. “He did Malcolm for seven years. He started at 7, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting at all.”
Kaczmarek revealed that Per Sullivan is currently studying Victorian literature at “a very prestigious American university” that the former actor requested she not name.
“I admire it too because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world. It’s not for everyone,” the actress added.
Why did the original Malcolm in the Middle get canceled?
Fox ultimately canceled Malcolm in the Middle after seven seasons due to low ratings.
In 2000, the pilot episode drew 22.4 million viewers, according to The New York Times, and the show went on to average 13 to 15 million viewers in its early seasons. Unfortunately, season 4 dropped to 10 million viewers, and by season 6, that number was cut nearly in half.
“Fox is proud to have been the home of this groundbreaking comedy,” Peter Liguori, former president of entertainment, said in a 2006 statement, per Movie Web. “From its innovative production values to its exceptional writers and cast, this series has helped shape the modern sitcom. We’ll miss this hilariously loud and manic – yet somehow relatable and admirable – family.”
Since the show’s conclusion in 2006, most of the main cast members have continued acting and tried different hats as well. Notably, Muniz pursued his lifelong dream of being a race car driver.
In October 2024, he earned a spot in the 2025 season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
“I think at first, maybe people thought it was like a hobby,” he told PEOPLE in March 2025. “I don’t necessarily worry about what anyone says. You earn respect as a driver when you’re out there competing and beating them, right? That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Muniz continued, “That is the name of the game, right? Is to try to be the fastest. I want to beat everybody.”
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