Erik Per Sullivan played Dewey Malcolm in the middle. His character became a fan favorite. Now Caleb Ellsworth replaced him in the sitcom’s reboot.
In his words, he feels a real pressure to perform as the fans of the show would be watching him closely.
The actor said he had been a fan of the show since childhood. “I grew up watching the show. I know Dewey was a fan favorite, but he was also a personal favorite.”
He continued, “And I think I was aware that people might be disappointed that Erik wasn’t coming back to do the show. I guess I didn’t want to ruin that.”
Despite the pressure, Ellsworth said his co-stars were the most supportive. “They were so warm and welcoming.”
“I was really scared to show up, but they all took such good care of me and made me feel like I belonged. So I’m very grateful to them all.”
The series’ logline read: ‘Malcolm lives in the suburbs with his parents and three brothers. After it is determined that he has a very high IQ, he is placed in a ‘gifted’ class at school.”
“From there, Malcolm narrates the increasingly chaotic, unusual events of his life as he navigates school dramas, crushes and, most importantly, his large, strange family.”
Malcolm in the Middle: Life is still unfair is streaming on Disney+.
