Erik Per Sullivan Makes Clear Decision on Hulu's 'Malcolm in the Middle' Reboot
Many fans would love to see Erik Per Sullivan return as Dewey in the Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair reboot.
According to Deadline, Per Sullivan "is the only cast member from the original ensemble to be recast" in the reboot, which will span four episodes. And now co-star Jane Kaczmarek revealed why. The revived show features the original cast reuniting "for parents Lois and Hal’s 40th wedding anniversary celebration," The Guardian reported.
Per Sullivan's character will now be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, Variety reported. The limited-run return will air on April 10 on Hulu and Disney+. "After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party," Hulu Press wrote, releasing a trailer.
Jane Kaczmarek Says Erik Per Sullivan Turned Down 'Buckets of Money'
(Photo by Brad Barket /Getty Images)
According to The Guardian, Erik Per Sullivan, is preoccupied with other things right now; he is "currently studying for a master’s degree at Harvard – and is the only member of the original family to be recast."
Kaczmarek told The Guardian: “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’.”
However, the other cast members made it clear to The Guardian that they are excited about returning to the show.
Frankie Munoz, who plays Malcolm, revealed that Bryan Cranston made the reboot happen, telling The Guardian: “I had dinner with Bryan and I remember him saying something like: ‘There’s no role I’d want to revisit more than Hal,’ so he took the lead. It’s thanks to Bryan that it really did happen.”
He added, “I think Bryan was more nervous to work with me again. I wasn’t intimidated to work with him, because he’s always just been such an amazing guy to me. Throughout all the success he’s had, he’s always been there to support whatever I’m doing. When I had the olive oil company, he bought the olive oil. I was in a band, and he came to the shows. When I was racing, he checked on me after a wreck. I was just excited to spend more time with him."
Fans Offered Support for Erik Per Sullivan Online
Fans responded on a Reddit thread devoted to Kaczmarek's quote. "He cashed in his chips and left the casino. Good for him," wrote one person of Per Sullivan.
"Exactly. Bit of a shame as a fan they can't get him back, but I'd rather the dude be happy than me slightly enjoying the new season of Malcolm more than I know I already will," wrote another fan.
"Dude pretty much just did a single popular show, made his money for life, and bailed to have a private life. Absolute win," added another person. "Love it that he's out there living the life he wants, and I love how even in a single sentence Jane Kaczmarek is so supportive of him, an incredible student," concurred another fan.
"One of those things where you gotta look at the big picture and see just how truly lucky he was to get a nice cushion and set up for the rest of his life and then live relatively normal forever," added another person.