The Malcolm in the Middle revival is set to debut with nearly the entire original cast, but the actor who first played Dewey, Erik Per Sullivan. His former co-stars revealed he turned down “buckets of money” as he continues his studies at Harvard.
In an interview with The Guardian, star Jane Kaczmarek, who played Per Sullivan’s on-screen mother, said he is “studying Dickens and is an incredible student.” Producers offered him “buckets of money to come back,” but he simply said, “No thank you.”
The former actor, now 34, focused on his education in the years after Malcolm in the Middle ended in 2006, with his last acting credit being the 2010 thriller Twelve.
Bryan Cranston also shared the story on the Fly on the Wall podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade. Cranston noted that Per Sullivan mentioned he has not acted since childhood and simply did not want to return. “He’s actually going to Harvard,” Cranston said. “He’s really, really smart, and he’s getting his master’s at Harvard right now.” He quoted Per Sullivan as saying, “Oh God, no, I haven’t acted since I was 9 or something. So I’m not into it.” The role of Dewey was recast with actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.
Despite not being interested in acting again, Sullivan gave his fictional family his blessing to pursue the revival. That speaks to the mutual respect that still seems to exist between him and the cast.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair
The new series, titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, kicks off this Friday on Hulu after a nearly 20-year absence for the Emmy-winning sitcom. All four episodes premiere April 10, 2026, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
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. The series reunites Bryan Cranston, Kaczmarek, Frankie Muniz, Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Emy Coligado.
They’re joined by several new cast members, including Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter, Leah. Vaughan Murrae as the youngest sibling, Kelly; Kiana Madeira as his girlfriend, Tristan; and Clark as Dewey.
Per Sullivan’s absence is a notable one for longtime fans. But his path, trading Hollywood for Harvard, is hard to argue with.
