Frankie Muniz Promises Big Surprises in ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Revival

Frankie Muniz is once again stepping into the shoes of Malcolm, and he says the new revival will surprise fans who grew up with the show.

The idea of bringing Malcolm in the Middle back has been floating around for years. Bryan Cranston first mentioned in 2016 that he was interested in a reunion.

Later, in 2021, Muniz revealed on Steve-O’s podcast that Cranston had even started working on a script for a movie version. At that time, the whole cast was willing to come back, but one person wasn’t on board. Muniz didn’t name names then, but by late 2023 he explained on Mayim Bialik’s podcast that the holdout was the show’s creator, Linwood Boomer. Boomer wanted two former writers to join before agreeing to give the green light.

By the end of 2024, Disney+ announced that the revival was officially happening. Instead of a movie, it was restructured into four episodes. The storyline will bring the family together for Hal and Lois’ 40th wedding anniversary, with Malcolm and his daughter playing a central role.

Filming began in April 2025, scheduled around Muniz’s NASCAR commitments, and wrapped just a month later. Many original cast members signed on, including Justin Berfield and Christopher Masterson.

However, Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, did not return. His role was recast with actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark. New cast members were also added, such as Vaughan Murrae as a younger sibling named Kelly, Kiana Madeira as Malcolm’s girlfriend, and Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter.

Muniz recently spoke about the project during an appearance on the “Lightweights” podcast. He hinted that longtime fans should not expect everything to feel familiar. “I think people will be surprised, in a sense, where everybody is and the story,” he said. “It’s hard to fit in 20 years of stuff into four 30-minute episodes, right? But I think people are going to be very happy with what they came up with.”

He also shared how much fun it was to be back with the cast. “I’m not exaggerating when I say filming this reboot, like I loved it so much, way more than I ever thought I could have,” Muniz explained. He called the shoot “the best time of my entire life.”

The revival does not yet have a release date, but with production completed, fans are waiting for Disney+ to set the premiere.

It’s exciting to see a show like Malcolm in the Middle return after 20 years, especially with most of the original cast. The mix of old and new characters could bring a fresh take while keeping the heart of the show. What do you think about this revival? Share your thoughts in the comments.