Almost 25 years after the beloved sitcom first appeared on the small screen, Disney+ will host a revival of Malcolm in the Middle featuring much of the original cast. Debuting in 2000, the early Aughts staple concerns a dysfunctional family and the trials and tribulations of their child prodigy middle son, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz). Taking all the tropes of its genre and exaggerating them for humorous results, Malcolm in the Middle used pitch-black comedy for laughs in a way that helped it stand apart from a bevy of other sitcoms that dotted the TV landscape at the time.

With its clever use of post-production techniques, fourth-wall-breaking asides, and unusual gags that weren't found in other sitcoms, Malcolm in the Middle snagged an elusive Peabody Award along with the usual TV accolades. The series also helped to make a household name out of star Bryan Cranston, and it went off the air a few years before his career-making turn as Walter White in Breaking Bad. Though Malcolm and his family got a fitting ending back in 2006, Disney has opted to bring them back for another round, and has green-lit a brief revival series.

The Malcolm In The Middle Revival Latest News

Filming Begins On The Revival

A month or so after several new cast were added to the show, the latest news confirms that filming has begun on Malcolm in the Middle. Earlier in 2025, Frankie Muniz teased that filming was due to begin soon, and the actor-turned-racer broke the news the shooting was underway on X (formerly Twitter). In his post, Muniz shared a photo of himself with co-stars Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his fictional mom and dad in the series. Muniz' heartfelt post includes the caption "Always good to have Mom and Dad around!"

The Malcolm In The Middle Revival Series Production Status

A Four-Episode Series Is In The Works

Though there was always some demand to find out what happened to Malcolm and his reprehensible family after the 2006 finale, Disney's announcement of a Malcolm in the Middle revival in late 2024 was still somewhat surprising. Rumblings of a continuation first started in 2022 when Frankie Muniz revealed that Bryan Cranston had written a new script, but that project seemingly went nowhere. The four-episode revival has original series creator Linwood Boomer attached as a writer, and it's unclear how much of Cranston's original work has made it into the series.

Karey Burke, the president of 20th Television, released a glowing statement about the revival, saying:

“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.”

Things moved along quickly following Disney's announcement, and the show was rushed into production in 2025. Frankie Muniz teased in the early months of the year that shooting would begin soon, and he would be the one that eventually broke the news that filming was underway in British Columbia, Canada, in April. No timeline is known, but it's assumed that the four-episode series will have a relatively quick turnaround time. Muniz has a busy racing schedule, and Bryan Cranston remains one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors.

Though a late 2025 release date can't be ruled out completely, it's highly likely that the Malcolm in the Middle revival won't land on the small screen until 2026. However, it will probably drop in the early months of the year, and won't be delayed by a lengthy post-production process.

Disney+ reunited the aforementioned cast for a cheeky promo video on the official Disney+ page on Instagram:

The Malcolm In The Middle Revival Cast Details

Several Original Stars Are Already Confirmed

While the full cast of the Malcolm in the Middle revival isn't known yet, the four-episode miniseries already has some major returns. Along with the announcement of the series itself, Disney also confirmed that actor and stock car racer Frankie Muniz would be back to reprise his role as the family's genius middle child, Malcolm. Meanwhile, Malcolm's domineering mother, Lois, will again be played by Jane Kaczmarek, and his hapless father, Hal, will see the return of Bryan Cranston. The first new cast member has ed the revival series as Kiana Madeira will play Malcolm's new girlfriend, Tristan.

In the new series, Malcolm will also be a father himself, and the role of Leah (his daughter) will be played by Keeley Karsten (The Fablemans). Malcolm's older brothers will also be back in the revival series, with Christopher Masterson as Francis and Justin Berfield as Reese. However, the role of Dewey has been recast, and the part will now be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark (Nightmare Alley). Finally, the two youngest siblings have also been cast, with Anthony Timpano (A Score to Settle) playing Jamie and Vaughan Murrae (Before I Change My Mind) playing Kelly.

The confirmed cast of the Malcolm in the Middle revival includes:

The Malcolm In The Middle Revival Story Details

Malcolm Returns For His Parents' Anniversary

Disney announced a flurry of information when they revealed their plans for the Malcolm in the Middle revival, including key details about the show's story. As per the official plot description, Malcolm will return to the family home to participate in his parents' 40th wedding anniversary. On top of that, the description also reveals that Malcolm has a daughter of his own, though nothing is known about this character quite yet. Besides providing the framework for the four-episode series, the plot also reveals that Hal and Lois' marriage has somehow survived nearly two decades after the series finale.

Read the plot description here:

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.

While that plot description is interesting, there are still several burning questions that the Malcolm in the Middle revival can answer. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is the identity of the sixth Wilkerson child, who was revealed via Lois pregnancy in the series finale. By the time the revival rolls around, the kid will be around 20, and there are two decades of details to catch up on. Similarly, Jamie was only a toddler when the show went off the air, and the revival could explore his adult personality.

Malcolm in the Middle concluded on May 16, 2006.

The other brothers have each lived their own exciting lives for the last two decades, and though they were each given their own unique endings, they have probably changed a lot too. There is also the opportunity to provide some closure for some of the side characters that Malcolm in the Middle was famous for, but it might be too ambitious to expect that from such a short revival series.