Malcolm in the Middle reboot trailer gives first proper look at actor replacing Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey

A new trailer for the Malcolm in the Middle sequel series shows that Malcolm has been hiding from the rest of his family for years now, including hiding his daughter Leah from them.

When bringing back major beloved TV series like this actors sometimes consider these reboot shows an opportunity to once again find their place in the limelight after years away.

The opposite however is true for Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, with one of the biggest parts of the original series having been replaced as the actor quit Hollywood completely.

Dewey, the youngest of the siblings for the first few seasons, was played by Erik Per Sullivan in the original show but has since quit the limelight.

Erik Per Sullivan was replaced by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark for the reboot

Whilst Ellsworth-Clark appears for a single frame in the original 40 second teaser trailer, he appears for the first time properly in the brand-new trailer.

It opens with Lois shaving Hal whilst he is completely nude, a throwback to the very first episode of the TV show, whilst the couple video call Dewey.

The trailer features Malcolm telling his daughter Leah that even more difficult than reconnecting with his parents will be reconnecting with his brothers, with the actors for Reese and Francis both returning.

Ellsworth-Clark looks pretty incredible casting for an older Dewey, with one popular coment on Reddit saying after the announcement: “Looks to be a good choice. Better than not having Dewey at all.” Per Sullivan had to be replaced as Dewey however because he quit acting, and left the limelight completely.

Per Sullivan was working on a Master’s degree on Harvard in last major update on actor

The casting for the new actor playing Dewey has been praised by fans (Hulu)

Bryan Cranston, who is returning for the sequel show, said in an interview that when asked about returning the Dewey actor had said: “Oh, no, no, I don't want to do it. But it's fantastic.

“I haven't acted since I was 9 or something. So I'm not into it.”

He revealed that Per Sullivan had been working on a Master’s degree at Harvard in Victorian literature.

Speaking about the decision from Per Sullivan not to come back in an interview with The New York Post, Frankie Muniz said: “He’s very happy in the life that he’s created outside of the entertainment world. He made the decision that he didn’t want to get back into it — which we completely respect.”

20th Century Fox

He added that the cast had said they didn’t want to force the former actor to ‘do something he didn’t want to do’.

Muniz added: “We had his blessing from day one to have the role be in the show and recast it.

“So I hope people aren’t too upset that he didn’t come back, but it was by his choice.”

He stated they knew ‘early on’ that the actor wasn’t going to be returning.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair airs 10 April.