Why Malcolm in the Middle star Erik Per Sullivan turned down ‘buckets of money’ to return for reunion series

The cast of Malcolm in the Middle has reunited for an upcoming limited series, except for one key cast member.

Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the family’s youngest son Dewey on the sitcom, turned down an incredibly lucrative offer to star in the four-episode series.

Sullivan, now 34, is busy studying literature at Harvard and is too focused on her education to return to Hollywood.

To talk GuardJane Kaczmarek, who plays family matriarch Lois, said Sullivan “studied Dickens and was an incredible student.” They offered him buckets of money to come back, but he just said “No, thank you.”‘

He has since been replaced by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who plays Dewey in the Disney+ series Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.

Sullivan does not currently have a public social media account and has not been seen on screen since a small role in the 2010 crime thriller Twelve.

This comes after Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield re-emerged after years out of the spotlight.

Berfield played Malcolm’s older brother Reese in the popular comedy series, but left the acting world after the series ended in 2006.

The now 40-year-old actor recently broke his silence in his first interview in almost 20 years and explained why he stepped away from Hollywood stardom.

‘I quit acting completely,’ he said Joe Vulpis PodcastHe added that he started working behind the scenes as a writer and producer.

‘I guess I’ve never reached a level where I’m in this much demand,’ he continued.

‘I had no intention of being like Leonardo DiCaprio. That guy is huge. ‘He did TV roles, he did comedies and then he blew up, but that was never my intention as an actor.’

Berfield described himself as ‘low-key’ and admitted he had spent the last few years being a stay-at-home dad to his two children, whom he shares with wife Liza Almeida.

When asked why he hadn’t done an interview in almost two decades, Berfield admitted it was because he had no projects to promote.

Sullivan was replaced by actor Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who portrayed Dewey in the Disney+ series Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.

The hugely popular comedy series aired from 2000 to 2006 and followed child prodigy Malcolm (played by Frankie Muniz) as he navigates life within his dysfunctional family.

‘I always said no because I wasn’t working on anything. ‘I’m just a stay-at-home dad so why am I going to do a podcast?’ he said.

‘I am resting at home with my child,’ he added.

Although he’s been out of the spotlight, Berfield is making a comeback in the four-episode revival of Malcolm in the Middle.

Titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the miniseries reunites the original cast as they celebrate Lois and Hal’s wedding anniversary.

The official synopsis reads: ‘After protecting himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois request his presence at their 40th anniversary party.’

Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek and Christopher Kennedy Masterson are returning for the new series.

The immensely popular sitcom aired from 2000 to 2006 and revolved around boy genius Malcolm (played by Muniz) navigating his life in his dysfunctional family.