While most of the original force is returning for Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the four-episode limited series set to premiere this month, one of its most iconic members won’t be returning. Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, refused to join his onscreen family for the revival despite being reportedly offered a huge paycheck. Speaking of Sullivan, Jane Kaczmarek, who’s returning alongside the rest of the main ensemble, told The Guardian:
[Sullivan is] studying Dickens and is an incredible student. They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said, ‘No thank you.Considering he was a cornerstone of the sitcom and a major reason it remains so beloved, Sullivan’s absence will undoubtedly be felt in the show.
Why Did Erik Per Sullivan Quit Acting?
Shortly after Macolm in the Middle concluded, Erick Per Sullivan opted to distance himself from the spotlight. Although he would go on to star in a few more modest projects, after 2010’s Twelve, he completely stepped away from acting to pursue a quieter, more private life.
In a previous interview, Kaczmarek further elaborated on Sullivan’s premature departure from the limelight, revealing that he was no longer interested in showbiz. Instead, he was pursuing a master’s degree in Victorian Literature (via Malcolm France).
He’s well, he’s very, very well…He did Malcolm for seven years, he started at seven, he ended at 14. He wasn’t interested in acting, at all.
Last year, Bryan Cranston also weighed in on the subject (via Fly on the Wall podcast), revealing that Sullivan was in the midst of pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard.
Who is Playing Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair?
A still from Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair | Credit: Disney+
Although it’s unfortunate, Sullivan won’t be joining the rest of the cast in the revival series, Dewey will still return alongside Reese and Malcolm for the reunion of this dysfunctional yet loving family.
Caleb Ellsworth-Clark will be playing the grown-up version of the fan-favorite figure in the limited series, and the trailer does offer a glimpse at him. The trailer sees Dewey joining his family in the video call, only to watch Lois shave Hal’s crotch on camera, a deliberate callback to the memorable gag from the pilot of the original sitcom.
Ellsworth-Clark previously clarified he won’t be mimicking Dewey from the sitcom’s original run while acknowledging the impact Sullivan’s character had on the show (via Calgary Herald).
I know that Dewey is a lot of people’s favorite character and the way that character was portrayed by Erik Per Sullivan. I don’t want to disappoint anyone just by not being that guy. But at the same time, I want to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunity, and maybe it’s okay that Dewey is a little different
Given how beloved the sitcom remains, there is hope that the new revival, despite the absence of the OG Dewey, will still capture the same magic as the original.
Are you excited for the revival? Comment below!
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair will premiere on April 10 on Disney+
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