Berfield defends Sullivan's Malcolm reboot absence
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- Justin Berfield said on the 'Howie Mandel Does Stuff' podcast that Erik Per Sullivan was asked 'four or five times' to return as Dewey for the 'Malcolm in the Middle' revival and declined each time, adding: 'He's a good guy, and I love Eric.'
- Berfield said he feels bad for Sullivan because paparazzi photos of him have surfaced despite his wish to stay out of the public eye: 'He didn't want to come back to the show. No hard feelings. Just leave Eric alone.'
- Sullivan was the only original cast member not to return for the revival; Caleb Ellsworth-Clark took over the role of Dewey.
- Jane Kaczmarek told The Guardian the show offered Sullivan 'buckets of money' to come back, but he still said no, adding that he is 'studying Dickens and is an incredible student.'
- The four-episode Hulu revival, subtitled 'Life's Still Unfair,' follows adult Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) as he's pulled back into his family for Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek)'s 40th anniversary party.
Why it matters: Kaczmarek's confirmation that the show dangled 'buckets of money' — and Sullivan still walked — underscores that his exit is a deliberate life choice, not a negotiation ploy, and Berfield's public plea reframes a fan backlash into a privacy story about a 34-year-old who chose Dickens over Hollywood.
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