Dewey Recast in Malcolm Reboot

The beloved sitcom Malcolm in the Middle is officially making a comeback with nearly the entire original cast – though with one notable exception. Erik Per Sullivan, who portrayed fan-favorite youngest brother Dewey, won't be returning for the revival. Instead, newcomer Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will take over the role.

A Harvard-Bound Dewey

Series lead Bryan Cranston (Hal) shared the news during an appearance on Dana Carvey and David Spade's Fly on the Wall podcast. Recalling his conversation with Sullivan, Cranston revealed: "When I told him about the revival, he responded enthusiastically but declined to participate."

The 33-year-old former actor has compelling reasons for his decision. "He's currently pursuing his master's degree at Harvard," Cranston explained. "Sullivan hasn't acted since childhood and has moved on to different pursuits."

A New Chapter Begins

Following the show's original 2002-2006 run, Sullivan gradually stepped away from acting entirely by age 19. While his career took a different path, his former castmates – including Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Justin Berfield (Reese), and Christopher Masterson (Francis) – are all returning for this highly anticipated revival.

Production concluded last month on the four-episode limited series, though Disney+ hasn't yet announced an official premiere date.