Malcolm in the Middle actor Justin Berfield expressed his sadness over Erik Per Sullivan attracting public attention after refusing to participate in the show's 2026 revision. During an appearance on Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast last Tuesday, Berfield responded to the question of whether he regretted Sullivan not being part of Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair by saying, "No. I know he was called many times." According to Berfield, the production team had offered Sullivan the role four or five times, but the actor declined each time.

Mandel convinced Berfield to text Sullivan during the podcast recording, but Berfield mentioned he wasn't sure if the actor would respond. "I think he just stepped away from the branch. We all love him; there's no problem," Berfield explained, noting that despite Sullivan not getting back to him, he observed that the public is trying to find out what he has been doing since leaving the entertainment industry.

"He's a good kid. I love Erik. I actually feel bad because I've seen the paparazzi photos," he complained about the attention Sullivan has been receiving. Berfield emphasized that Sullivan does not want to return to the show and there is no shame in that.

Bryan Cranston, who played the father role during the series, previously commented on conversations he had after discussing a possible restart with Sullivan. According to Cranston, Sullivan has completely distanced himself from the entertainment industry, is studying at Harvard, and is even pursuing a master's degree. Sullivan stated that he hasn't acted since he was nine years old and has no intention of returning to the field.

The character Dewey is portrayed by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark in Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair. From the original series, Cranston, Berfield, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson, and Frankie Muniz have returned to their acting roles.