Erik Per Sullivan will not be returning for Hulu’s upcoming Malcolm in the Middle revival, and according to his former co-star Jane Kaczmarek, it was not for lack of effort—or money. Kaczmarek revealed this week that the actor, who played Dewey throughout the original series, declined a lucrative offer to reprise the role that made him famous for a very different reason.
Speaking to The Guardian, Kaczmarek said Per Sullivan has fully embraced life outside of Hollywood and is now focused on his studies at Harvard University. “He’s studying Dickens and is an incredible student,” Kaczmarek said.
She added that producers attempted to bring him back by offering him “buckets of money,” but Per Sullivan ultimately declined. “He just said, ‘No thank you,’” she explained.
Per Sullivan’s decision makes him the only principal cast member from the original series not to return for the revival. The role of Dewey, Malcolm’s younger brother and one of the show’s most popular characters, has instead been recast with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.
Per Sullivan has remained largely absent from the public eye since stepping away from acting after the original series ended in 2006. Unlike several of his co-stars, he has not pursued major acting projects since Malcolm in the Middle went off the air.
The new miniseries picks up years after the events of the Fox sitcom, with Malcolm being pulled back into the family’s orbit when Hal and Lois insist that he attend their 40th wedding anniversary celebration.
Along with the returning cast, the revival introduces several new characters, including Malcolm’s daughter, Leah, played by Keeley Karsten; his girlfriend, Tristan, portrayed by Kiana Madeira; and Malcolm’s younger siblings, Jamie and Kelly, now played by Anthony Timpano and Vaughan Murrae.
First airing in 2000, Malcolm in the Middle earned acclaim for its single-camera style, fourth wall-breaking humor, and portrayal of a chaotic working-class family. Dewey evolved from the overlooked youngest brother into one of the series’ most memorable characters, known for his intelligence, musical talent, and ability to outsmart the rest of the family.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is set to debut on April 10.
