Malcolm in the Middle reprisal heated up in October 2022 when Muniz mentioned that co-star Bryan Cranston was working on a script.
Now, almost 25 years after the comedy's debut, Disney Branded Television confirms that a Malcolm in the Middle revival is happening at Disney+, with original stars Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek set to reprise their respective roles as Malcolm, Hal, and Lois. The revival will consist of four episodes and a premiere date has yet to be announced. But the official logline is below, teasing that Malcolm now has a daughter of his own:
Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.
Boomer returns as a writer in the revival. Original series director Ken Kwapis is also coming back to direct all four episodes. They both executive produce alongside Cranston, Tracy Katsky, Gail Berman, New Regency’s Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann. Jimmy Simons and Laura Delahaye, meanwhile, are co-executive producers. It's mentioned that other cast are expected to return. Karey Burke, the president of 20th Television, which is producing the limited series with New Regency, praised Malcolm in the Middle in a statement:
“Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be. When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite.”
What The Revival Means For Malcolm In The Middle
Four Episodes Is A Change Of Pace
The cast has long maintained their desire to revisit the characters, though they've mentioned that it would have to be for the right idea. On its face, the plot is similar to other reboots and revivals that mix established characters with newer faces. But the Disney+ revival is distinguished by its short episode count. The revival comes across less like an attempt to introduce a potential spinoff. It seems, at first, more of a one-off reunion that checks in with the familiar Malcolm in the Middle characters.
20 Best Episodes Of Malcolm In The Middle
The beloved sitcom Malcolm in the Middle gave fans 151 enjoyable episodes over its seven-season run but these 15 episodes ranked above the rest.
If the revival is successful and lands well with audiences, that is bound to spur discussions of a second season. Still, after almost two decades since the comedy's end, the core actors have all gone in different directions. Kaczmarek and Cranston are still active performers, with the latter better known for his Breaking Bad turn, but other cast have stepped away from acting. It will be a nice opportunity to see them all together again and the short form suggests a refreshing lack of grand expectations about the project compared to other revivals.
Our Take On Reviving Malcolm In The Middle
It's A Quiet Classic
Currently available to watch in the U.S. on Hulu or on Disney+ with a Hulu bundle, Malcolm in the Middle remains popular and was a relative juggernaut during its original airings. The comedy was nominated for 33 Emmys. It won seven, including for writing and directing. With a main cast that also included Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and Christopher Masterson, the dysfunctional family was beloved. There will be a lot of focus on the revival right out of the gate because of that.
Source: Disney Branded Television
Malcolm in the Middle
- Release Date
- 2000 - 2006-00-00
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Linwood Boomer
Cast
Frankie Muniz
WHERE TO WATCH
Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it's still just as chaotic as ever.
- Directors
- Linwood Boomer
- Writers
- Linwood Boomer
- Seasons
- 7
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
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