Erik Per Sullivan Turns Down Malcolm Revival
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- Erik Per Sullivan declined "buckets of money" to return as Dewey in the "Malcolm in the Middle" revival, opting to continue his Dickens studies at Harvard University, according to on-screen mother Jane Kaczmarek in a Guardian interview.
- Per Sullivan is the only original cast member to be recast — newcomer Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will take over the role of Dewey in the four-episode revival titled "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair."
- The revival premieres April 10 on Hulu, on Disney+ for US bundle subscribers, and on Disney+ internationally.
- The returning ensemble includes Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Bryan Cranston as Hal, Kaczmarek as Lois, Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis, and Justin Berfield as Reese, alongside new additions Anthony Timpano, Vaughan Murrae, Keeley Karsten, and Kiana Madeira.
- The plot centers on Malcolm being pulled back to his parents' home for Hal and Lois's 40th anniversary party.
Why it matters: Per Sullivan is the sole holdout from the original ensemble, meaning a key role central to the show's comedic identity must be rebuilt from scratch with a newcomer — a notable gamble for a four-episode revival that otherwise reunites nearly every core cast member.
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