Jane Kaczmarek Says Erik Per Sullivan Rejected A Deal To Return To ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Revival

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, a revival of the popular Fox sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle, has locked its release date. The series is arriving on Hulu on April 10, 2026. However, the show won’t witness the return of Erik Per Sullivan, who gained recognition for his performance as ‘Dewey’ in the original show. The character is being played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark in the revival series.

Actress Jane Kaczmarek, who will appear as ‘Lois’ in the series, has now opened up about how the producers tried their best to bring Erik back. Keep reading to know more!

Jane Kaczmarek says that the producers approached Erik Per Sullivan

Among the lead characters, Jane Kaczmarek was also an important part of Malcolm in the Middle, when it aired back in 2000. Apart from her, Frankie Munz and Bryan Cranston have also returned for the revival, portraying ‘Malcolm’ and ‘Hal,’ respectively. In an interview with The Guardian on April 3, 2026, the cast members of the revival opened up about what they have been doing so far. During the conversation, Jane said that the makers approached Erik to return for the revival, as she said:

“He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student – they offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said: ‘No thank you.’”

Furthermore, Jane said that a lot of things changed for her, including the fact that she took a break from work. Jane also mentioned that she had to fulfil her responsibility of raising two children due to her divorce, which happened shortly after the end of the original show. For the unversed, Erik Per Sullivan is currently a student at Harvard University, pursuing a master’s degree.

Bryan Cranston previously made similar claims about Erik Per Sullivan’s absence in the revival

While appearing on the Fly on the Wall podcast in February 2026, Bryan Cranston shared his excitement to be a part of the Malcolm in the Middle revival. Notably, he recalled speaking to Erik Per Sullivan when the revival was confirmed. Bryan said that Erik was happy about it. However, when Cranston requested Erik to return, the latter rejected it, saying that he did not want to do it. Bryan further stated:

“He’s actually going to Harvard. He’s really, really smart, and he’s getting his master’s at Harvard right now. He said, ‘Oh God, no, I haven’t acted since I was 9 or something. So I’m not into it.”

Erik Per Sullivan’s last project was the teen crime drama film, Twelve, released in 2010. While he gained recognition for his role in Malcolm in the Middle, Erik made brief appearances in two shows, The King of Queens and Come On Over. Erik also gave his voice in Finding Nemo and Arthur and the Minimoys. He has a few more films to his credit, including Armageddon, The Cider House Rules, Wendigo, Joe Dirt, Unfaithful, Christmas with the Kranks, and Mo. He has been a recipient of a YoungStar Award and a Young Artist Award.

What are your thoughts about Erik Per Sullivan’s decision not to return for Malcolm in the Middle revival? Let us know.

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