'Malcolm in the Middle' Revival Series in the Works

Malcolm in the Middle is being revived for a new series of episodes on Disney+ and some of the original cast is already attached to reprise their roles.

Variety reports that Disney has ordered four episodes for a revival of the beloved sitcom, which ran for seven seasons on Fox between 2000 to 2006. Original cast members Frankie Muniz, who portrayed the titular Malcolm, and his on-screen parents as played by Jane Kaczmarek and Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston are set to return for the new episodes.

"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," reads the synopsis for the revival, which currently doesn't have a premiere date. Series creator Linwood Boomer is also on board with the project as writer and executive producer. Ken Kwapis will direct the episodes.

"Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability," said Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis. "Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again. With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved—along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless."

There's no word on whether the rest of the original cast will make an appearance in the revival. The rest of Malcolm's dysfunctional family was portrayed by Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan, who took on the roles of Francis, Reese, and Dewey, respectively. Both Masterson and Berfield have attended cast reunions in the past, while Sullivan retired from acting in 2010 at age 18.

"Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be,” added 20th Television president Karey Burke. “When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite."

News of the revival comes not long after Muniz revealed that he plans to shift his focus from acting to being a full-time NASCAR driver. "I don't want to say it's a long time coming, but this has been a dream of mine forever," he told People. "I want people to know that I've literally dedicated my life to this."

He also recently revealed that his onscreen Malcolm in the Middle father Bryan Cranson frequently checks in on him. "When I was 11, 12 years old, he really became like a father figure to me and then even still to this day. He's essentially like a Hollywood God at this point," Muniz said on the Inside of You podcast. "He still reaches out to me every couple of weeks [to] check in on me. He really cares about what I’m doing, comes to the races, if my band was playing, came to shows. I mean, he’s literally such an inspiration, and like I said, that’s what I strive to be for someone else in the future."