Malcolm in the Middle, the smash-hit sitcom from the 2000s, is all set to return to the screens through a revival series. Bryan Cranston, who arguably earned his breakthrough through the same, will be reprising his iconic role in this soon-to-be-released revival show himself, which will make fans nostalgic will all those memories pretty soon.
Of course, Cranston isn’t the only one returning to the fan-beloved comedy series that followed the dysfunctional middle-class family of Malcolm. But while a majority of the core cast is set to come back to their respective roles, one actor is not returning, and Cranston claims it’s because “he’s actually going to Harvard“: Erik Per Sullivan!
Erik Per Sullivan isn’t returning to the Malcolm in the Middle revival series
Being one of the stars set to reunite – after almost two decades – with the original middle-class family that ruled the hearts of fans worldwide back in the 2000s, Bryan Cranston, who played the well-meaning and loving but completely inept and immature dad of Malcolm, Hal, is obviously thrilled. But there’s one problem: Not everyone is returning.
As the actor confessed during a recent appearance on an episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade, Erik Per Sullivan won’t be returning to the revival series. In the original show, he played the role of Dewey, Hal’s youngest son. Turns out, Per Sullivan was “the only one who didn’t come back to act in the show.“
Even when he told him about it, Per Sullivan didn’t quite seem interested in returning. As the Breaking Bad star shared:
I talked to Eric 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.’
So, fans won’t get to see what Dewey grows up to be years after the conclusion of the original series? Well, that’s disappointing for sure, for it would have been truly epic to have him return, too. But as disheartening as it may be for the fans of the original hit sitcom, Per Sullivan actually has a very good reason not to come back and reprise.
As per Bryan Cranston, Erik Per Sullivan is actually going to Harvard!
Turns out, Erik Per Sullivan, who will turn 34 this year, wasn’t all too keen on returning since he is currently studying at Harvard.
Plus, he was also among the only ones from the dysfunctional TV family who made a radical departure from the entertainment industry, so it’s only understandable that he feels rather disconnected from acting as compared to before.
During the same interview, Cranston went on to explain just why Per Sullivan wasn’t returning, all the while heaping praise on him for his smartness. He said:
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.’
Well, of course, a full family reunion was what fans had been clamoring for so long, and even one character missing from the ensemble would be pretty noticeable. But it seems like Per Sullivan has found his true calling with something else, so that’s fine too!
The release date for Malcolm in the Middle revival series is yet to be announced, though it is currently expected to premiere on Disney+ in December 2025. The original series is currently available to be streamed on Hulu.
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