Bryan Cranston has explained why Erik Per Sullivan won’t be returning for the Malcolm in the Middle comeback.
It was confirmed last year that the popular sitcom would be returning to screens with new episodes focused on the cast all grown up as they prepare for Hal (Cranston) and Lois’ (Jane Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary.
Disney+ confirmed that we’d be getting four new episodes focused on the new shenanigans and Frankie Muniz said last month that 'this experience was straight-up incredible' as filming on the series wrapped up.
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Muniz has been spending his recent years racing cars, but he and many of his co-stars returned for the show, including Justin Berfield, despite him largely stepping back from acting after Malcolm in the Middle ended.
However, Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, is not going to make a return.
What happened to Erik Per Sullivan?
Don't worry, he's not dead or anything.
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Instead he largely dropped out of the limelight after Malcolm in the Middle ended and has been getting on with his own life for that time.
He's been avoiding the limelight for years, as the popular show ended in 2006 and his last credited role was in 2010.
His co-stars have explained that he preferred to drop out of the limelight and focus on his studies.
Why isn’t Erik Per Sullivan coming back for Malcolm in the Middle?
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Because he doesn't want to seems to be the short answer.
Cranston appeared on the Fly on the Wall podcast recently to say how wonderful it was to be back on the show, saying: "It's amazing how these boys who were my boys on that show are now around the same age I was when we first started, and they've got children of their own."
When he was asked about Erik Per Sullivan, Cranston said he was 'the only one who didn't come back to act in the show' and explained the reason why he wasn't returning.
"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'," Cranston recounted of their conversation.
"He's actually going to Harvard, he's really, really smart, and he's getting his master's at Harvard right now.
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"He said, 'Oh God, no, I haven't acted since I was 9 or something. So I'm not into it.'"
So there you have it, he's not interested in returning.
That tallies with what Cranston's co-star Kaczmarek said last year, explaining that they were still in contact with him, but he 'wasn't interested in acting, at all'.
She said she admired his decision 'because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it's not for everyone'.
When is Malcolm in the Middle coming back?
Filming on the return of Malcolm in the Middle has been completed and the show is expected to become available later on in 2025.
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The Malcolm in the Middle return will be shown on Disney+
Topics: Bryan Cranston, Disney, Frankie Muniz, Celebrity, TV and Film
Joe Harker