Jane Kaczmarek Says Erik Per Sullivan Turned Down “Buckets of Money” to Return for ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Revival

The upcoming revival of Malcolm in the Middle is moving forward, but one familiar face will not be coming back. Erik Per Sullivan, who originally played Dewey, decided not to return, even though the show tried hard to bring him back.

In an interview with The Guardian, Jane Kaczmarek shared what happened behind the scenes. She said that Per Sullivan is now focused on his education at Harvard University and is doing very well. She explained, “studying Dickens and is an incredible student. They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said, ‘No thank you.’”

Because of this, Dewey will be played by a new actor, Caleb Ellsworth-Clark. He is the only main character from the original cast to be recast in the revival, which is titled “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.”

The new story brings Malcolm back into his chaotic family life. His parents, Hal and Lois, want him to attend their 40th wedding anniversary, which pulls him back into the usual drama.

Several original cast members are returning. Frankie Muniz is back as Malcolm, along with Christopher Kennedy Masterson as Francis and Justin Berfield as Reese. Emy Coligado also returns as Piama. The revival will also introduce new characters, including Malcolm’s daughter Leah and his girlfriend Tristan, along with older versions of his younger siblings.

“Life’s Still Unfair” is set to premiere on April 10. It will be available on Hulu and Disney+ in the United States for bundle subscribers, and on Disney+ in other countries.

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