Malcolm in the Middle Revival: First Look Reunites Family, But One Key Member Is Missing

The family is almost all here. The beloved sitcom Malcolm in the Middle offered fans a Christmas Day surprise with a sneak peek at its upcoming revival, but the reunion isn't quite complete. The December 25, 2025, glimpse confirmed that while the central family is back, one of its most memorable members will not be returning.

A Holiday Greeting from a Familiar Bathroom

According to Entertainment Weekly, the short clip aired during ABC's 'Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade' broadcast. It featured Frankie Muniz (Malcolm) alongside his on-screen parents, Bryan Cranston (Hal) and Jane Kaczmarek (Lois). The trio appeared on a set meticulously recreating the original show's iconic yellow-and-pink tiled bathroom, a backdrop for countless chaotic scenes during its 2000-2006 run.

The forthcoming revival, a four-episode series set for Hulu and Disney+, will reportedly follow the family as they reconvene to celebrate Hal and Lois's 40th anniversary.

The Absence of Dewey

While most of the original cast is returning, the revival will not feature Erik Per Sullivan, who played the youngest brother, Dewey. Speaking on the 'Fly on the Wall' podcast, Bryan Cranston revealed that he spoke with Sullivan, who politely declined the offer to return. Sullivan, who is reportedly pursuing a master's degree at Harvard, has not acted since he was a child and expressed no interest in returning to the profession. The role of Dewey will now be played by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.