Malcolm In The Middle fans are seemingly divided over the new reboot trailer, with some saying it looked “unlikely to capture the magic of the original”.
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Airing from 2000-2006, the hit sitcom saw title character, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) navigate life with his eccentric family. The show also featured Bryan Cranston as Malcolm’s father, with the actor later finding critical acclaim as the star of Breaking Bad.
Back in 2024, it was confirmed that a new series, would see the show return with a four-episode revival, following a now-adult Malcolm and his family. Muniz, Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek (who played Malcolm’s mother) are also returning, although Erik Per Sullivan, who played younger brother Dewey, declined to return and has been recast.
Earlier this week (March 12), Hulu unveiled a complete trailer for the forthcoming reboot, titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, which is set to arrive on the streaming service and Disney+ next month.
It’s already struck a chord with fans, with the trailer racking up over five million views in a matter of days as they anticipate the release of the four-part series.
“It might be the nostalgia talking but I smiled the whole way through this,” one Reddit user said of the show. “Even if it’s not great, it’s not another season or anything. Just a four part catch up of sorts. Also, just seeing these characters again will keep me invested the whole way.”
As for the format, another fan took to Reddit to say they felt a short mini-series was the right way to go.
“They’re very unlikely to capture the magic of the original show with everything about it being so different, so a short mini-series that doesn’t overstay its welcome was a good option,” they added. “This lets them organise it around one narrative that justifies bringing them all together, and lets them play around with the aged versions of these characters and how they now interact without having to completely reinvent the show.”
Others, however, shared apprehensions about the visual feel of the show, with one commenting on YouTube: “Everyone is over lit and looks like they’re in Walmart under 5000k light bulbs. The original show had bright orange sun rays peering through windows creating harsh shadows. Lamps and light fixtures help creating the light that illuminated the actors. What we’re getting here feels nothing like that.”
You can check out more social media reactions below.
Me after watching the trailer #MalcolmInTheMiddle pic.twitter.com/ZhM5GKWvEX
— Edward Sanchez (@edwardistheman) March 12, 2026
the Malcolm in the middle remake is so important to me you guys don’t understand
that is my friend groups go to show basically every time we greet each other we go “WHATS UP JACKASS” and that’s curtesy of hal wilkerson
so yeah we will be seated april 13th
— dolittle (@upthehilbckwrds) March 14, 2026
I wish it was a whole series instead of just 4 half hour episodes. Hopefully it ends with the possibility of continuing. Still can’t wait to watch it!
— Effie (@ThatsJustEffie) March 12, 2026
Family chaos is back, and this trailer proves that 20 years later, Malcolm is still destiny’s favorite punching bag. Fun fact: To keep the iconic intro vibe, the crew scoured the original 20th Century Fox archives to re-license the exact 2000s anime and wrestling clips,…
— Oscar Barbera (@OscarBarbera7) March 12, 2026
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. PLEASE, LET GOOD THINGS DIE! we do not need freaking remasters, remakes, and riding on the coattails of legendary series only to tarnish the name later…
— OneJadedCorgi (@crabbycorgi) March 13, 2026
There was no reason for this remake of a great show to be produced… lets see what message and learning experience they try to cram down our throats without it feeling natural or subtle like the OG one did. If you pay attention to the old show the progressiveness is there FS.
— gnoneyuh (@Gnoneyuh) March 13, 2026
How did they completely ruin this? Malcom in the middle was crazy, over the top, goofy and rebellious in the best ways, it felt like we were part of a chaotic family in a simpler time… I’m so confused. Anyways I’m gonna start Malcom in the middle AGAIN, lost track around 60…
— ˡ (@Lowgaun) March 12, 2026
the fact that frankie muniz lived through amnesia, race car driving, and a band career just to come back and play malcolm again is the most malcolm thing possible
— Lucas (@TheLucasToday) March 12, 2026
Sucks it’s only Just four episodes tho pic.twitter.com/9uR4CoO3O0
— The Ghost Of Sparta LIVES! (@Andronicus77643) March 12, 2026
My geriatric millennial heart just grew three times the size https://t.co/LQNogrExVY
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) March 12, 2026
The first 10 seconds of this was enough to confirm my seatage https://t.co/wuFiCIhdHB pic.twitter.com/RdSmn12p9d
— Roo (@mspiggyhairgif) March 12, 2026
Welcome back nostalgia.
I hope the actors will finally win their well deserved awards
— 𝒥. (@2wlovers) March 12, 2026
Last year, Muniz appeared on the Lightweights podcast and touched on filming the reboot. “I’m not exaggerating when I say filming this reboot, like I loved it so much, way more than I ever thought I could have,” he said at the time. “We ended in May, and I haven’t talked to anybody since, you know what I mean? I’ve been gone. I’ve only been home, I think, for 12 days since the beginning of the year.
“I’m just always crazy, and I think next week, I’m going to have time. I’m going to reach out (to the rest of the cast).”
Earlier in the interview, he discussed what people can expect from the follow to the original series. “I think people will be surprised, in a sense, where everybody is and the story,” Muniz said. “It’s hard to fit in 20 years of stuff into four 30-minute episodes, right? But I think people are going to be very happy with what they came up with.”
In February 2025, Muniz revealed he had rewatched the original series with his wife, and was unimpressed with his character. “Malcolm sucked,” he said at the time. “He was the worst character on that show!”
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