The popular US sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle” is set for a revival with a four-episode special on Disney+. However, fans will notice one notable change: Erik Per Sullivan, who played Malcolm’s younger brother Dewey, will not return as he has stepped away from acting. Instead, the character will be portrayed by “Fargo” actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.
Frankie Muniz will reprise his role as Malcolm, joined by his on-screen parents, Lois and Hal, played by Jane Kaczmarek and “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston. Speaking about Sullivan last year, Kaczmarek confirmed he is doing well. “He did ‘Malcolm’ for seven years.
He started at seven and ended at 14,” she told fan site Malcolm France. “He wasn’t interested in acting at all.”
Kaczmarek added that Sullivan, now 33, was studying Victorian literature at a prestigious American university and had a passion for the works of Charles Dickens. Sullivan’s last acting credit was in the 2010 teen crime drama “Twelve”.
The Dewey character change
He has since maintained a low profile and was absent from several “Malcolm in the Middle” cast reunions. The Emmy Award-winning Fox TV show premiered in 2000 and ended in 2006 after seven seasons.
The single-camera comedy series followed the dysfunctional, working-class family of child prodigy Malcolm, who often broke the fourth wall to comment on their antics. Dewey, known for his musical talent, often fell victim to his brothers’ pranks and developed a high tolerance for pain. He became the self-appointed teacher of his classmates after a school misunderstanding placed him in a lower-level class.
Dewey eventually broke the cycle of torment by not bullying his youngest brother, Jamie. The revival, set to begin production in Vancouver, Canada, in the coming weeks, will see Malcolm with a teenage daughter, portrayed by Keeley Karsten. The synopsis for episode one indicates the pair will “get drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”
Christopher Masterson (who played Malcolm’s oldest brother Francis) and Justin Berfield (who played Reese) will also return for the reboot.
Kiana Madeira will join the cast as Malcolm’s girlfriend. Riverdale actor Anthony Timpano will play Jamie, while Vaughan Murrae will portray the youngest sibling, Kelly.
