‘Malcolm in the Middle’ is back as Hulu reboot tackles midlife chaos

Malcolm in the Middle is set to return nearly two decades after it ended, with a four-episode reboot arriving on Hulu on April 10.

Titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the limited series reunites much of the original cast and follows Malcolm as he is drawn back into family life to help mark his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary.

Frankie Muniz reprises his role as the former child genius, alongside Bryan Cranston as Hal and Jane Kaczmarek as Lois. The reboot comes almost 20 years after the original series ended its seven-season run on Fox.

Disney released a teaser for the series on Monday, leaning into a broader nostalgia push that has seen older television shows perform strongly on streaming platforms.

The original Malcolm in the Middle aired from 2000 to 2006 and produced 151 episodes. All episodes are currently available to stream on Hulu.

Disney, which acquired 20th Century Fox’s television assets in 2019, has increasingly turned to its archive as studies show viewers gravitating towards familiar content. Research cited in the report found that around 60 percent of television viewing now comes from library titles, with Gen Z audiences in particular drawn to older shows for comfort and nostalgia.

The revival is expected to appeal to long-time fans who followed Cranston’s career well before his later success in Breaking Bad. Muniz has also remained a pop culture figure and currently competes as a professional racing driver affiliated with Ford.

Most of the original cast will return, with the exception of Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey. Sullivan has since stepped away from acting and the role has been recast, with Caleb Ellsworth-Clark taking over.

The reboot also introduces new characters. Malcolm now has a daughter, played by Keeley Karsten, and a girlfriend, portrayed by Kiana Madeira. The family’s iconic home will appear again, recreated on set after the original exterior property in Studio City was renovated.

The project is produced by Disney Television Studios and New Regency. Linwood Boomer, who created the original series, returns as writer and executive producer, while Ken Kwapis directs all four episodes and also serves as an executive producer.

The revival comes as The Walt Disney Company continues to mine nostalgia across its platforms. ABC is also preparing to bring back Scrubs in February, another early 2000s comedy set to return to screens.

When Malcolm in the Middle first aired, it was widely praised by critics. Former Los Angeles Times television critic Howard Rosenberg described it in 2000 as the smartest and most original comedy of its season.