The highly anticipated Malcolm in the Middle reboot is officially happening with nearly the entire original cast reuniting - though one key member won't be returning. Erik Per Sullivan, who originally portrayed fan-favorite Dewey, will be absent from the revival series, with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark stepping into the role instead.

Show star Bryan Cranston broke the news during an appearance on Dana Carvey and David Spade's Fly on the Wall podcast. "I reached out to Erik and told him, 'Hey, we're bringing the show back!'" Cranston shared. "He was genuinely excited and said, 'That's amazing news!' But when I mentioned we were looking forward to having him return, he responded, 'Oh no, no - I'm not interested in doing it. But that's wonderful for you all.'"

The now 33-year-old former child actor has an excellent reason for declining to participate. "He's actually pursuing his master's degree at Harvard," Cranston revealed admiringly. "He's incredibly bright and currently focused on his academic path. Erik told me, 'Honestly, I haven't acted since I was a child - it's just not something I'm interested in anymore.'"

After the show's initial run ended in 2006, Sullivan gradually stepped away from acting, with his last credited role coming just four years later when he was only 19. While he left Hollywood behind, he clearly found success in other pursuits. The returning cast includes Bryan Cranston alongside Frankie Muinz as Malcolm, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, and Christopher Masterson.

Filming on the revival series concluded last month, though Disney+ has yet to announce an official premiere date for the four-episode half-hour revival series. Fans eagerly await its debut on the streaming platform in the near future.