'Malcolm in the Middle' star rejected 'buckets of money' to return for reboot

Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, has focused on academics instead of reprising his role.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:55am

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Erik Per Sullivan, who played Malcolm's younger brother Dewey on the hit sitcom 'Malcolm in the Middle', turned down a lucrative offer to return for the Disney+ reboot of the show. Instead, the former child star has pursued a master's degree in Victorian literature at Harvard and stayed out of the spotlight.

Why it matters

The decision by Erik Per Sullivan to reject the opportunity to reprise his iconic role highlights the changing priorities of some former child stars, who may choose to focus on academic and personal pursuits over returning to the entertainment industry, even when presented with substantial financial incentives.

The details

According to Per Sullivan's former co-star Jane Kaczmarek, the producers of the 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot offered the 34-year-old 'buckets of money' to return as Dewey, but he declined. Instead, Per Sullivan has been pursuing higher education, studying the works of Charles Dickens and excelling as a graduate student at Harvard. The reboot, titled 'Life's Still Unfair', will feature the return of most of the original cast, including Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Bryan Cranston and Kaczmarek as Hal and Lois, and Chris Masterson and Justin Berfield as Francis and Reese. However, the role of Dewey will be recast with 'Fargo' actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

  • In April 2025, Erik Per Sullivan was photographed in public for the first time in 18 years, spotted leaving his house in Boston to grab a coffee.
  • The 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot, 'Life's Still Unfair', is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

The players

Erik Per Sullivan

The former child star who played Dewey on 'Malcolm in the Middle', and has since pursued a master's degree in Victorian literature at Harvard.

Jane Kaczmarek

Per Sullivan's former co-star on 'Malcolm in the Middle', who revealed that the producers offered him 'buckets of money' to return for the reboot.

Frankie Muniz

The actor who played the titular character Malcolm, and who revealed that the cast respected Per Sullivan's decision not to return for the reboot.

Caleb Ellsworth-Clark

The 'Fargo' actor who was cast to play the role of Dewey in the 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot.

Bryan Cranston

The actor who played Malcolm's father Hal, and who helped push for the 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot.

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What they’re saying

“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.'”

— Jane Kaczmarek, Former co-star

“He made the decision that he didn't want to get back into it — which we completely respect. 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.”

— Frankie Muniz

What’s next

The 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot, 'Life's Still Unfair', is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2026.

The takeaway

Erik Per Sullivan's decision to reject a lucrative offer to reprise his role as Dewey on the 'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot highlights how some former child stars are prioritizing personal growth and academic pursuits over returning to the entertainment industry, even when presented with substantial financial incentives.