”Malcolm in the Middle” Revival Wraps Filming With Bryan Cranston and Frankie Muniz Back in Action

Disney+ reunites the original cast in a four-episode special as Malcolm returns home for Hal and Lois’s 40th anniversary—with new characters, chaos, and comedy in store.

After nearly two decades, the Wilkersons are back—and just as dysfunctional as ever. Bryan Cranston has confirmed that production has officially wrapped on the highly anticipated Malcolm in the Middle limited revival for Disney+, and the experience left him feeling “so rewarded.”

Speaking to People, Cranston reflected on returning to the role of Hal, the lovable and eccentric patriarch of the chaotic household. “Slipping back into that character of Hal for me was so rewarding—I missed him,” he said. “It’s been almost 20 years since we said goodbye. And he’s a sweet, lovable man. It was fun to see my whole family back together. It was great.”

The four-episode miniseries, announced in December 2024 to commemorate the show’s 25th anniversary, is set for a December 2025 release on Disney+. It brings back many of the original stars, including Frankie Muniz (Malcolm), Jane Kaczmarek (Lois), Christopher Masterson (Francis), and Justin Berfield (Reese).

Now an adult with a daughter of his own, Malcolm finds himself pulled back into family drama when his parents invite him to their 40th wedding anniversary. Frankie Muniz, who had previously stepped away from acting, described the experience as “straight-up incredible—like stepping back into Malcolm’s wild world but with all the love and chaos cranked to 11.”

The revival will introduce several new characters, including Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter Leah, Kiana Madeira as his girlfriend Tristan, and Vaughan Murrae as Kelly—the family’s youngest child whose existence was first teased in the series finale. Caleb Ellsworth-Clark steps into the role of Dewey, replacing Erik Per Sullivan, who retired from acting and has remained out of the spotlight.

Cranston also revealed that just slipping on Hal’s signature short-sleeve patterned shirt helped him find the character again. “It screams out he’s not going anywhere,” he joked.

Originally airing from 2000 to 2006 on FOX, Malcolm in the Middle earned seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and a Peabody, becoming a critical and commercial success. With its signature single-camera format and fourth-wall-breaking narration, the series was beloved for its offbeat humor and emotional core—a formula that the revival seems eager to recapture.

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