Malcolm in the Middle Comeback Confirmed: Life’s Still Unfair Teaser Locks 2026 Release

Malcolm is officially back in the chaos. Disney dropped a quick teaser for the four-episode revival, and yes, it leans right into the fuzzy gag you think it does.

The teaser: a very specific callback

In a bite-size nod to the original show, we cut to the family kitchen where Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) is shaving Hal's (Bryan Cranston) back while classical music plays. As the clippings hit the floor, they swirl together and spell out the new title: 'Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair.' It is both gross and perfect.

The limited series hits Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in 2026.

What this revival is actually about

It's a tight four-episode run. Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) gets pulled back into the family orbit when his parents, Hal and Lois, basically summon him for their 40th wedding anniversary party. He shows up with his daughter, and from there, you can imagine how quickly the wheels come off.

Creator Linwood Boomer returned to write the new story, and producing director Ken Kwapis is directing all four episodes.

Who's back, who's new

• Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, now a dad.
• Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek as Hal and Lois, celebrating 40 years of marriage and still running the house like a battlefield.
• Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield are back as Francis and Reese.
• Dewey is recast: Caleb Ellsworth-Clark steps in since Erik Per Sullivan has stepped away from acting.
• Anthony Timpano plays Jamie, the youngest brother viewers last saw as a baby/toddler late in the original series.
• Vaughan Murrae plays Kelly, the baby Lois was pregnant with in the series finale, now described as independent and already wiser than most of the family.
• Kiana Madeira plays Tristan, Malcolm's girlfriend.
• Keeley Karsten plays Leah, Malcolm's daughter, who shares her dad's sarcasm, impulsiveness, and scary-high IQ, but she's more sensitive and emotional.

Frankie Muniz on stepping back into Malcolm's world

Muniz said they wrapped earlier this year and he sounded legitimately thrilled about the whole thing: reunited cast, new faces, non-stop laughter, and a new appreciation for acting itself. He even admitted he never totally felt like the label 'actor' fit him until now, and he wants to keep going. He also wanted to post a bunch of on-set photos but says Disney wouldn't let him yet.

'Just wrapped filming the Malcolm in the Middle reboot, and man, I'm still reeling... like stepping back into Malcolm's wild world but with all the love and chaos cranked to 11.'

Translation: he had a blast, it went by fast, and he's not ready to say goodbye to the crew. Same, honestly.