Malcolm in the Middle praised for recasting one of best characters for TV reboot (2025)

Malcolm in the Middle fans have been treated to some major news about the upcoming TV reboot, including one beloved character who’s been recast.

It’s been 19 years since the final episode of the TV sitcom aired, starring Frankie Muniz as the titular character – a highly intelligent kid who has to deal with the daily chaos of his family.

Considering the legacy it’s left over the past two decades, it’s astonishing to think that it only aired for six years and seven seasons from 2000 until 2006.

Now, it’s set to make a highly-anticipated return after years of rumours, with iconic cast members including Bryan Cranston as Malcolm’s dad Hal making a return.

While there’ll be several familiar faces alongside Frankie, 39, and Bryan, 69, one actor from the original cast won’t be joining them.

It’s been reported by Variety that Erik Per Sullivan, 33, who originally played Malcolm’s younger brother Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle, has been replaced for the revival.

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark – who’s previously starred in TV shows including Fargo and The Expanse and bears a striking resemblance to the former Dewey star – will instead take his place.

While some fans might have initially been disappointed that Erik won’t be returning, several pointed out that his absence isn’t too surprising considering his final professional acting role was in 2010.

Jane Kaczmarek, who plays the matriarch Lois in Malcolm in the Middle, previously spoke about her co-star’s decision to step away from the limelight.

‘He’s well, he’s very, very well…He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting, at all,’ she said in a 2024 interview with the YouTube channel Malcolm France.

‘He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that he’s asked us all to be quiet about and he loves Charles Dickens. He’s doing graduate work in Victorian literature. I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it’s not for everyone.’

Given Erik decided to move away from acting 15 years ago, several Malcolm in the Middle fans have praised the decision to have a new actor play Dewey in the reboot, rather than removing the character completely.

‘That’s pretty cool actually.he wanted out of that crazy life and it sounds like people respected it,’ a Reddit user called Oreo_ wrote in response to the news.

‘It’s a surprisingly well-cast recast,’ CollinsCouldveDucked said, while thizface,’ remarked: ‘The new dude looks just like him.’

Bobthetomatovibes said that while it’s ‘sad’ that Erik isn’t returning, ‘it makes sense if he really wants nothing to do with acting anymore’.

‘I’m glad they’re not just pretending the character doesn’t exist!’ they stated.

One Reddit user called ElGranQuesoRojo suggested that as a running gag in the revival, Malcolm’s older brother Reese – who is being reprised by Justin Berfield from the original series – should be the only one to notice that Dewey has changed, ‘and no matter how much he tries to prove it nobody will believe him’.

Christopher Masterson will also be coming back as Francis, while further cast members including Anthony Timpano, Vaughan Murae and Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter, Leah.

Malcolm in the Middle is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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