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Malcolm in the Middle is returning at last with a four-episode season, and, yes, Dewey is returning approximately 20 years after he last aired. Erik Per Sullivan, who originated the role back in the early 2000s, will not return to portray him. And it is high time that fans everywhere can collectively heave a huge sigh of relief concerning his whereabouts. The news that Caleb Ellsworth-Clark is filling the shoes of Erik has been broken by the producers.
He is reportedly playing Dewey in his official capacity in the latest reboot on Disney+. As the series is already in production (finished by mid-May 2025) and is to be released in December, the new Dewey is the newest entry on a list of series regulars and new faces. Here is the entire breakdown of what is already out there, the reasons for recasting Dewey, and what the fans should know regarding the comeback of the character.
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Caleb Ellsworth-Clark takes Erik Per Sullivan's place as Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle
Caleb Ellsworth-Clark fills the shoes of Erik Per Sullivan as Dewey in the remake of Malcolm in the Middle. The casting was done years after wondering whether and when Erik Per Sullivan would return. The original actor of the show who played Dewey has not been involved in any acting projects since 2010 and has been living off the grid, going to the extent of attending Harvard.
A decision was made not to recast Erik Per Sullivan, but rather to recast the character with a different actor. Caleb, as Dewey, will give the character a great new spin without removing any elements that made the original so good.
The reason why Erik Per Sullivan will not be returning to Malcolm in the Middle
Erik Per Sullivan's departure is personal. In 2006, when the show was canceled, Erik slowly left the Hollywood environment and retired (professionally) as an actor around 2010. Since that time, he has been lying low, pursuing non-show business activities like further studies.
His absence from the revival series was a shock to everyone. However, it was justified by producers, who apologized for his change of mind and also reiterated the role of Dewey to be just as vital to the program.
Cast members from the beginning return with new faces
The reboot will feature the same core Wilkerson family. Bryan Cranston (Hal), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Justin Berfield (Reese), and Christopher Masterson (Francis) will all be reprising their original characters. Their casting is character and tone, dynamically fitting.
New cast members to be added are Anthony Timpano as Jamie (the youngest of the Wilkerson brothers), Vaughan Murrae as Kelly (the new sixth Wilkerson cast member), Keeley Karsten as Leah (Malcolm's daughter), and Kiana Madeira as Tristan (Malcolm's wife). They join to replace the gap between generations without deviating from the original.
Production and release timeline of Malcolm in the Middle
Production for the four-episode limited series wrapped up with filming in May 2025. Production allegedly wrapped mid-May, with the most recent reported days being May 15 or 16. This December, the program will make its Disney+ debut.
The action takes place on the 40th anniversary of Hal and Lois, when Malcolm and his daughter come home—and are pulled right back into the typical mayhem of the family.
What to look for in Malcolm in the Middle with Dewey being back
Dewey will be portrayed by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who will have to get into the character's natural personality: weird, intuitive, off the emotional charts, and radically unassuming. Even though he won't be trying to reproduce Erik's performance, producers have made a conscious effort to retain the essence of Dewey.
Dewey's status as a stabilizing presence within the family crisis will continue to be upheld. In place of a second letter, the character will firmly be rooted in the story, even with the family setup now revealed to generations to come.
Keeping a balance of nostalgia and contemporary update in Malcolm in the Middle
The new season tries to maintain the integrity of the original series—clever, quick-wittedness, fourth-wall breaking everywhere, and dysfunctional family life—while introducing a new sensibility. Malcolm's girlfriend and daughter are evidence of this old-meets-new.
The wink will be appreciated by the old fans, but the showrunners are hoping for a new set of audience who might be encountering the Wilkersons for the first time.
Malcolm in the Middle revival would see Dewey come back with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who showed up on-screen from the time the show went off the air. Erik Per Sullivan, not because he made the personal decision to retire as an actor, but because it was left for the cast to proceed with a recast to maintain the show's tone.
With production finished and a December 2025 release date scheduled for Disney+, the series is poised to revitalize the Wilkerson family without deviating from what made the original a hit. Dewey's mug can be refreshed, but his role amidst family disarray remains no less vital.
Also read: Malcolm in the Middle reboot series makes its first big recast decision
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