The cast of the beloved 2000s sitcom Malcolm in the Middle has reunited for a four-part revival titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which premiered on Friday. The revival features original stars Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Frankie Muniz, and Christopher Masterson, though Erik Per Sullivan reportedly opted out.
Justin Berfield, who played Reese, returned to acting after a 20-year hiatus. Berfield, now 40, explained his decision to step away from acting, stating he wanted to pursue other interests after growing up in the industry. He spent the past several years as a stay-at-home dad to his two children and worked as a producer on projects like The Country Bears and Sons of Tucson. Berfield shared that his life took a new turn after getting married and having children, leading to the long break from acting.
Bryan Cranston, who played Hal, recounted a memorable stunt from the original series during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Cranston revealed he was stung twice while covered in 60,000 bees for an episode, including a sting on his scrotum, which the bee wrangler left him to handle alone. He also discussed other wild stunts, such as being strapped to a moving bus and performing a disco rollerskating routine.
Jane Kaczmarek, who portrayed Lois, reflected on the emotional series finale, where the cast was covered in fake sewage. She recalled the cast crying and hugging as they said goodbye, highlighting the tight bond they shared. Kaczmarek noted that while the cast members pursued different paths—such as Cranston’s transition to Breaking Bad and Muniz’s racing career—they remained in touch and reunited for the revival.
The revival marks a return to the wacky, family-centered humor of the original series, with the cast reuniting after two decades apart.