The Return of Malcolm in the Middle
The cast of Malcolm in the Middle has reunited for an upcoming limited series, marking a significant moment for fans of the beloved sitcom. However, one key member of the original cast is notably absent: Erik Per Sullivan, who played the family’s youngest son, Dewey. Despite being offered a substantial sum to return, Sullivan declined the opportunity.
Now 34, Sullivan is currently studying literature at Harvard University and has chosen to prioritize his education over a return to Hollywood. Jane Kaczmarek, who portrayed the family matriarch Lois, shared her thoughts on Sullivan’s decision with The Guardian. She said, “He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student. They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said, ‘No thank you.'”
Sullivan has been replaced by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who will portray Dewey in the new Disney+ series titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair. This four-episode revival brings the original cast back together, with the exception of Sullivan.
A New Chapter for Justin Berfield
The news of the reunion comes alongside the return of another former star of the show, Justin Berfield. Berfield, who played Malcolm’s older brother Reese, had stepped away from the spotlight after the series ended in 2006. Now 40, he recently broke his silence in his first interview in nearly two decades, revealing why he left acting behind.
“I fully just stopped acting,” Berfield told The Joe Vulpis Podcast, adding that he transitioned into working behind the scenes as a writer and producer. “I just never reached that level where I was that in demand, I guess.” He admitted that he never aimed to become like Leonardo DiCaprio, noting that while DiCaprio rose to fame through TV and comedy before becoming a major movie star, that path was never his intention.
Berfield described himself as “low key” and shared that he has spent the last several years as a stay-at-home dad to his two children, whom he shares with wife Liza Almeida. When asked why he hasn’t done interviews in almost two decades, he explained that it was because he had no projects to promote.
“I’ve always said no because I wasn’t working on anything. I’m just a stay-at-home dad so why am I gonna do a podcast?” he said. “I’m just chilling at home with my kid,” he added.
Despite stepping away from the spotlight, Berfield is making a comeback in the four-episode revival of Malcolm in the Middle. Titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the limited series reunites the original cast as they celebrate Lois and Hal’s wedding anniversary.
The official synopsis describes the storyline: “After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.”
Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, and Christopher Kennedy Masterson are all returning for the new series. The original sitcom, which ran from 2000 to 2006, centered around child prodigy Malcolm (played by Muniz) as he navigated life within his dysfunctional family.
