Malcolm in the Middle was a genre-defining sitcom that ran from 2000-2006, and the series has achieved a cult status over the years.
Revivals have been requested for Malcolm for a while, and now Disney+ is looking to deliver with a revival announced with stars Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek. Check this out:
They’re back! Malcolm in the Middle returns with 4 brand-new episodes on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/6nYVzjRq3M
— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) December 13, 2024
According to Variety, the logline reads:
“Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”
Besides the returning cast members in the announcement, fans are also expecting a return from the rest of Malcolm’s family including Reese (Justin Berfield), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan), Francis (Christopher Masterson), and Jamie (James and Lukas Rodriguez). The final episode also revealed Lois was pregnant with a sixth child, but we don’t know where that story goes yet. Maybe even Malcom’s best friend Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor) can show up as well.
Malcolm in the Middle revolutionized the sitcom genre by embracing the lower-middle class status of Malcolm’s family and their everyday struggles. It also popularized the single-camera comedy format, and had racked up 33 Emmy nominations throughout its entire run.
Though some may be bummed that the revival is only four episodes, it does allow for one solid narrative that updates everyone on where Malcolm and his family are now after all this time. Plus, with the original creator Linwood Boomer onboard, we should expect a continuation of the story that feels organic and true to the show.
No release date has been set for the Malcolm in the Middle revival on Disney+.
