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Dewey's Harvard Choice: Why He Skipped Malcolm Revival
13 Apr
Summary
- Erik Per Sullivan, Dewey's actor, chose Harvard over revival.
- Producers tried remotely filming Dewey to ease actor's return.
- A new actor was cast for Dewey after Sullivan declined.

The recent Malcolm in the Middle revival, titled 'Life's Still Unfair,' featured many original cast members, but Dewey's presence was notably minimal. This was due to actor Erik Per Sullivan's decision not to return, as he is currently pursuing studies at Harvard University. Producers revealed they made persistent efforts to secure Sullivan's participation until the final day of production.
To accommodate Sullivan, producers designed his storyline with maximum flexibility, including options for remote appearances via video calls. Despite these accommodations, Sullivan confidently declined the offer. Creator Linwood Boomer shared a humorous exchange where Sullivan playfully questioned Boomer's own return to acting.
Following Sullivan's decision, the production team recast the role of Dewey. Caleb Ellsworth-Clark was chosen after an audition tape, with casting directors noting his natural capture of the character's personality and a resemblance to the original actor.