Malcolm in the Middle star Bryan Cranston confirmed he's penning a script for a reboot of the hit Fox comedy that's been rumored for some time.
During an interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Cranston addressed a fan's question about the prospects of Malcolm in the Middle returning in some capacity as well as if he was writing a script for a potential revival. The acclaimed actor rated the chances of a return high and admitted he's been fleshing out a story for the reboot. "Yes, I would say that on a scale of 1-10, I'd say an 8 that we'll do a reunion, movie or show or something," Cranston said. "And yes, we have been working on concepts of story, plots and things like that."
Cranston's script admission comes after he initially denied a Malcolm in the Middle reboot was in the works. This past February, he rebuffed claims made months prior by co-star Frankie Muniz about a revival being in development, telling The Independent he spoke to show creator Linwood Boomer about it but denied he was spearheading the project, insisting, "I don't need a job. I've got plenty of jobs."
Malcolm in the Middle and the Rise of Bryan Cranston
Malcolm in the Middle was a huge hit for Fox during its seven-season run between 2000 and 2006. The dark comedy chronicled a dysfunctional lower-middle-class family, with a specific focus on Malcolm (Muniz), a teenage boy with a high IQ always caught in the middle of various family disagreements. Cranston played Malcolm's father, Hal, a well-meaning yet aloof father who's overly dependent on his wife, Lois (Jane Kaczmarek). The series won seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy and a Peabody Award during its run while earning Cranston multiple Golden Globe nominations.
Cranston, whose acting career spans over four decades, sent his fans into a frenzy on Jun. 9 when he seemingly announced his retirement from acting in 2026 to spend more time with his family. However, Cranston jumped on Instagram the next day to clarify his announcement, insisting his intention is to take a one-year hiatus in 2026 once he turns 70. "I am not retiring. What I am going to do is hit the pause button for a year after I reach my 70th birthday in 2026. Holy crap - 70! I’m not even sure what ‘pausing’ means entirely, but at this moment, I think it means that, by taking a year off, it will provide several things," he said.
After Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston landed arguably his career-defining role, playing high school chemistry teacher-turned-meth maker Walter White, aka Heisenberg, on the revered AMC crime drama Breaking Bad. He also featured in Breaking Bad's spinoff series, Better Call Saul, and is set to make a guest appearance on Season 16 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which launched on June 7.
Fans can stream episodes of Malcolm in the Middle on Disney+.
Source: YouTube, via Entertainment Tonight