Frankie Muniz Reunites with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as Malcolm in the Middle Revival Begins Filming
The dysfunctional genius is back — and he brought his parents with him.
Frankie Muniz just confirmed that filming is underway for the highly anticipated Malcolm in the Middle revival, and longtime fans of the chaotic sitcom have reason to celebrate. Muniz shared a behind-the-scenes photo on set with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, his on-screen parents Hal and Lois, writing: “Always good to have Mom and Dad around!”
The upcoming four-episode revival, set to stream on Disney+, picks up years after the series ended in 2006. According to the official logline, Malcolm — now an adult with a daughter of his own — is reluctantly pulled back into the family vortex when Hal and Lois summon him home for their 40th wedding anniversary. And from the looks of it, the chaos hasn’t calmed down a bit.
Cranston and Kaczmarek reprise their fan-favorite roles alongside Muniz, with original cast members Christopher Masterson (Francis) and Justin Berfield (Reese) also returning. While Erik Per Sullivan won’t be back as Dewey — the child star stepped away from acting years ago — the role has been recast with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, known for Fargo and The Expanse.
The next generation of Wilkerson family madness includes Kiana Madeira as Malcolm’s girlfriend Tristan, Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter Leah, Vaughan Murrae as his never-before-seen sister Kelly, and Anthony Timpano as the youngest brother, Jamie. The show will acknowledge its final-season cliffhanger — Hal and Lois were revealed to be expecting a sixth child — by introducing Kelly, described as “self-sufficient” and “already wiser than most of the family.”
Leah, Malcolm’s daughter, is said to mirror her dad’s infamous traits: sky-high intellect, deadpan sarcasm, and emotional impulsiveness — but with a heart that’s more open and vulnerable than his ever was.
Cranston, who became a TV legend through Breaking Bad, has long teased interest in revisiting Malcolm. Now, it’s finally happening. The revival promises nostalgia, sharp writing, and that familiar edge of dysfunction that made the original so iconic.
Whether it’s shouting matches in the kitchen, backyard disasters, or Hal’s wonderfully weird breakdowns, it’s safe to say the Wilkersons haven’t mellowed with age — and neither have the fans.