Why was Dewey recast in the Malcolm in the Middle revival?

American sitcom Malcolm in the Middle is back on our screens with a four-part reunion series, subtitled Life's Still Unfair, which brings back most of the original cast – with one key exception.

Erik Per Sullivan shot to fame at a young age in the role of Dewey, the little brother of Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), who often took the brunt of his brothers' various pranks as well as enduring the zany antics of their parents.

Nevertheless, by the end of the original series, Dewey had grown into a somewhat well-adjusted teenager, with promising school grades and a nurturing attitude towards his own baby brother, Jamie.

Fans are curious to know what the character has been up to in the decades since the original series, but may be shocked to see that Dewey has been recast, with Per Sullivan declining to reprise the role – here's why.

Why was Dewey recast in the Malcolm in the Middle revival?

Erik Per Sullivan turned down the chance to appear in Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, having left the acting profession behind entirely many years ago.

Malcolm in the Middle creator Linwood Boomer has revealed that the team had tirelessly attempted to convince Per Sullivan to come out of his acting retirement for one last gig.

However, the original star was firm in his position that he'd left his TV career behind. Instead, Per Sullivan is currently studying for a Master's degree in Victorian Literature at the prestigious Harvard University.

Despite his absence from the new episodes, former co-star Jane Kaczmarek – who played his mother, Lois, on Malcolm in the Middle – assured fans that he was doing "very well" (in a YouTube interview).

"I admire it because so many people think being in show business is the greatest thing in the world, [but] it's not for everyone," she said.

Indeed it isn't! After all, Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz himself stepped out of the limelight for several years in order to pursue a career as a race car driver.

Meanwhile, fellow sitcom alumni Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement) and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Full House) also chose not to continue acting in adulthood, after becoming famous from a very young age.

Still, you can't blame the show's creatives for not trying, with Kaczmarek later telling The Guardian that Per Sullivan was offered "buckets of money" to reprise the role, but simply wasn't interested.

Malcolm in the Middle creator Linwood Boomer and executive producer Tracy Katsky shared an insight into how the decision impacted Dewey's role in the revival, which is largely limited to remote calls with his family.

"The reason that so much of what he does is on a screen is because we were hoping, up until the last minute, that Erik would change his mind," said Katsky in an interview with TVLine.

Boomer recalled telling Per Sullivan that his reduced role in the show would only require "half a day" to film, but still, no deal could be brokered.

"He finally said to me, 'Do you wanna be an actor again?'," recalled Boomer of their conversation (Per Sullivan was referencing the producer's own youth stardom in 1970s drama The Little House on the Prairie). "I was like, 'No [laughs]'."

With the comparison clearly drawn, Boomer came to understand and accept the decision. Fortunately, he considers replacement Caleb Ellsworth-Clark to be a "flawless" substitution.

Outside of Malcolm in the Middle, Per Sullivan was also known for roles in Christmas with the Kranks, animated film Arthur and the Minimoys (also known as 'and the Invisibles') and crime drama Twelve – his final screen role, released in 2010.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair is available to stream on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.

Add Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.