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When Breaking Bad took off, Millennials collectively went “Wait, that’s the dad from Malcolm in the Middle?!” At least, that was my initial reaction upon seeing Bryan Cranston as Walter White. Malcolm aired from 2000 to 2006, for a total of seven seasons. When BB finished airing in fall 2013, Cranston was a hot commodity in Hollywood. He definitely had enough clout to be a part of any project he wanted. As it turns out, Bryan has spent the last 12 years trying to get his TV family back together again. And now, after almost 20 years off air, Malcolm in the Middle is officially getting a four-episode revival on Disney+.
“Malcolm in the Middle” may look and feel a little different when it returns for its Disney+ revival. Disney has ordered four episodes of the comedy, which will include original cast members Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan and Christopher Masterson.
While “Malcolm in the Middle” wrapped in 2006 after seven seasons on Fox, Cranston has been trying to revisit the universe for a long time.
“I’ve been trying to get this going for 12 years. I was the one poking the bear, going, ‘Let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s do it,’” Cranston said on the carpet ahead of Variety and Apple TV+’s “The Studio” screening and Q&A on Wednesday. “Finally, Linwood Boomer, our creator of the show, got tired of me poking him. He came up with some really fun, terrific ideas.”
Cranston said the new show is “funny” and “heartfelt.”
“You are reintroduced to this family. We left the airwaves 20 years ago. All the boys are adults with their own children,” he said. “It’s a different dynamic in that sense — and yet, do things really change with Hal and Lois? I don’t know that they do!”
The new show will follow Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter as they’re forced to attend Hal (Cranston) and Lois’ (Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary party.
On Tuesday, multiple supporting cast members were announced, mostly returning from the original. However, the role of Dewey, originally played by Erik Per Sullivan, has been recast. “Fargo” star Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will play the character in the revival, which does not yet have a premiere date.
I think Bryan’s excitement is so freaking adorable. Who knew that was the character he wanted to revisit so badly? That’s too funny and it makes him all the more endearing. I’m actually most surprised that they were able to talk Frankie Muniz into coming back! When we last checked in with him, he was a contestant on the Australian version of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and was happily doing his race car driver thing. I wonder if he was the hold up for all of these years. It’s kind of a bummer that they’re recasting the part of Dewey, but Erik Per Sullivan has been retired from acting since 2010 and I respect that. I’m sure Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will do a fine job. Anyway, thoughts on this latest reboot news? I don’t think we necessarily need it, but Bryan Cranston has earned some good will in my book, so I’ll remain open-minded.
Please make it as chaotic as the original. I rewatched it recently and it remains one of the best shows from the US.
Me too! And it has aged better than any other sitcom from that time, too.
Yes, let the chaos ensue! I cant imagine MitM being anything other than a half hour of absolute hilarity and craziness. Weve seen it repeated on so many cable channels between here (France) and back in Scotland and its been watched from the pilot to the last one on repeat.
I just told my husband about this, and he was like “It better open with Malcom’s dad waking next to his wife and saying ‘I just had the strangest dream.’ Or I’m not watching!” LOL! That absolutely needs to happen.
My family watched this growing up—I will definitely check it out.
Malcolm almost ruined Bryan’s chance at landing Breaking Bad and yet he’s still grateful to the show. Learn this, Jacob Elordi.
We need and deserve this.
I love that Jane Kaczmarek has stayed close with Erik Per Sullivan and I especially love that he’s focused on a super nerdy area of academia. He was excellent on the show, but it’s always cool to see child actors leave that behind if they wish.