Good news, Malcolm in the Middle fans — as it appears as if one of the show’s most iconic troublemakers is making a long-awaited return!
If you grew up in the late '90s/early 2000s, chances are you spent plenty of time watching the chaotic brilliance of the Wilkerson family.
The hit sitcom ran for seven glorious seasons, capturing the sheer madness of growing up in a household where brothers were a nightmare, schemes were constant, and somehow, things always seemed to go hilariously wrong.
Between Jane Kaczmarek’s fiery portrayal of mom Lois, Bryan Cranston’s delightfully clueless Hal, and Frankie Muniz leading the charge as Malcolm, the series had no shortage of unforgettable moments.
And of course, let’s not forget Malcolm’s four brothers — Francis, Reese, Dewey, and Jamie — who brought their own unique brand of mayhem to the show.
Now, with Disney+ announcing that it is reviving the beloved series for a four-episode limited run, fans have been wondering: Who is coming back?
The Return of Reese—And Maybe More?
We already knew that Breaking Bad legend Bryan Cranston, along with Jane Kaczmarek and Frankie Muniz, would be reprising their roles.
But now, fans can celebrate another major comeback, as it looks like Justin Berfield is officially returning as Reese!
That’s right, Malcolm’s older brother - the legendary chaos machine with an inexplicable talent for cooking - is making his way back to the Malcolm in the Middle universe. Berfield, now 38, took to Instagram to share the news, writing: "On my way to meet the MITM fam. See you soon!"
While he largely stepped away from acting after Malcolm in the Middle wrapped, Berfield found success behind the scenes as an executive producer on Sons of Tucson and was involved in films like Bad Moms and Limitless.
But after nearly two decades out of the spotlight, he’s ready to step back into Reese’s reckless shoes.
And honestly, could a Malcolm in the Middle reboot even work without Reese? His antics — from becoming a destructive (but dumb) force in the army to repeatedly bullying his younger brothers to striking out with countless girls at school — were a cornerstone of the show.
A Hidden Clue About Dewey?
While fans are thrilled about Reese’s return, an even bigger surprise may have been lurking in the Instagram comments.
Enter Erik Per Sullivan -- better known to fans as the adorable but often frustrated and chaotic Dewey.
The youngest of the original four brothers (before baby Jamie entered the mix at the end of season four), Dewey was the show’s secret genius, often outwitting his older siblings and delivering some of the funniest moments in the entire series.
But after Malcolm in the Middle ended, Per Sullivan seemingly disappeared from Hollywood. Even Jane Kaczmarek previously hinted that he wouldn’t be interested in a reboot.
However, fans went into full detective mode when Per Sullivan dropped a rare Instagram comment under Berfield’s post. His response? The emojis: "👏👏❤️"
Despite not being much to go off, the response from the rarely seen Sullivan sent fans into a frenzy, with many begging him to return. Could this be a hint that Dewey is coming back too?
Sullivan has maintained a low profile since his last major role in 2010.
In an interview with Malcolm France last summer, Kaczmarek was asked about Sullivan, to which, she revealed: "He goes to school at a very prestigious American university that he’s asked us all to be quiet about and he loves Charles Dickens.
"He’s doing graduate work in Victorian literature. I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, it’s not for everyone."
What’s Next for the Reboot?
While Erik Per Sullivan’s involvement remains a mystery, Frankie Muniz recently teased some unexpected surprises.
Speaking to uInterview, he dropped this intriguing hint about the reboot, saying: "I think everyone will be very happy with the amount of characters that are on the new Malcolm in the Middle... characters that you don't expect to see, that you wouldn't expect to see over the first seven seasons. You'll see a lot of people—I'll say that."
Could Dewey be one of those surprise returns? Fans are keeping their fingers crossed.
Either way, with Reese back in action, the Wilkerson family reunion is already shaping up to be legendary. Now, all we need is for Hal to roller-skate his way onto our screens one last time.