Disney+ revives ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ with original cast
In a surprising twist, Disney+ has officially announced the revival of the iconic sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle," as reported by Variety.
The revival is being helmed by Linwood Boomer, the creator of the original series. Fans of the show will be thrilled to know that Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek are returning to reprise their beloved roles.
Disney Branded Television has greenlit four new episodes of the cult classic, though the premiere date is still under wraps.
According to the official synopsis, the revival follows Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his daughter as they get swept up in the family's usual antics when Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) insist on his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary celebration.
"'Malcolm in the Middle' is a groundbreaking sitcom that perfectly captured the chaos, humour, and heart of family life," said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television.
"Its witty and heartfelt depiction of a wonderfully dysfunctional family connected with viewers across generations. We're thrilled to reunite the original cast to recapture that magic. With Linwood Boomer and the original creative team leading the charge, these new episodes will deliver the same laughs, mischief, and surprises that made the show a timeless favorite," Davis added.
Malcolm in the Middle originally ran on Fox from 2000 to 2006, spanning seven seasons and 151 episodes.
The show featured a stellar cast, including Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and Christopher Masterson, among others.
Upon its debut, the series became a cultural phenomenon, playing a significant role in popularising single-camera sitcoms on television.
Over its run, the show earned 33 Emmy nominations and won seven, including two awards for Cloris Leachman as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
It also picked up accolades for both directing and writing, solidifying its legacy as a trailblazer in comedic storytelling.
Currently, the entire series is available for streaming on Hulu and on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
"Malcolm in the Middle revolutionised television comedy when it first premiered over two decades ago, pushing the boundaries of what the genre could achieve," shared Karey Burke, President of 20th Television.
Burke continued, "When Linwood Boomer proposed the idea of reuniting this beloved, hilariously dysfunctional family, we knew there was no better series to revisit. With its groundbreaking legacy and an exceptionally talented cast, bringing it back felt like the perfect choice."
Linwood Boomer, the creator of the original Malcolm in the Middle, returns as the writer and executive producer for the revival. Joining him as executive producers are Bryan Cranston, Tracy Katsky of KatCo, Gail Berman, and New Regency's Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann.
Ken Kwapis is set to direct all four episodes while also serving as an executive producer. Additionally, Jimmy Simons and Laura Delahaye are on board as co-executive producers.
The limited series is being produced by 20th Television in collaboration with New Regency.
Frankie Muniz is represented by Established Artistes and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Bryan Cranston is represented by UTA and Johnson Shapiro, while Jane Kaczmarek is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency.
With this announcement, "Malcolm in the Middle" became the third early 2000s broadcast series to make headlines for a revival or reboot in the past week.
Reports recently revealed that ABC is developing a "Scrubs" reboot with series creator Bill Lawrence at the helm, while Hulu has given a pilot order for a "Prison Break" reboot led by Elgin James.
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