Bryan Cranston Explains Why His Youngest MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE Co-Star Decided Not to Return for the Revival — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

13-06-2025

The Malcom in the Middle revival has wrapped production, and fans are ready for the new episodes to head our way. The story sounds like it will be fun, and it will be cool to see the cast reunite onscreen. All but one returned, Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey in the show's original run.
Sullivan has not appeared in any of the show's reunions, and he turned down the offer to return to the role in the Disney+ revival project.
Fans didn't know what to make of the recasting, with some wondering if there was bad blood between Sullivan and his cast mates, but Malcolm in the Middle dad Bryan Cranston has cleared the air.
In a recent interview on the Fly on the Wall podcast, Cranston talked about returning to the series with his TV kids all grown up, stating, "It's amazing how these boys who were my boys on that show are now around the same age I was when we first started, and they've got children of their own."
When host David Spade asked about Erik Per Sullivan, who played youngest son Dewey on Malcolm , Cranston lamented that he was "the only one who didn't come back to act in the show."
He added, "I talked to Erik and I said, 'Hey, we got the show! It's going to come back.' He goes, 'Oh, that's fantastic!' And I go, 'Yeah, so we're looking forward to having you back.' He goes, 'Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic.'"
Cranston then confirmed that Sullivan gave up acting after the run of the show, and gave an update on the impressive path Sullivan chose, saying, "He's actually going to Harvard. He's really, really smart, and he's getting his master's at Harvard right now. He said, 'Oh God, no, I haven't acted since I was 9 or something. So I'm not into it.'"
Not only is it honorable that a child actor would choose a different career, but it sounds like Sullivan is thriving going the route of education. It's also very cool to hear that he and Cranston are still in touch. They spent many years in each other's lives, and it's awesome that they have been able to keep up a relationship.
There is still no released date set for the new episodes of Malcolm in the Middle , but it's rumored to be shooting for a late 2025 release.
via: EW