Malcolm in the Middle Disney Plus revival solves long-running mystery

We’re getting new episodes of Malcolm in the Middle for the first time since 2006, and while life is still unfair, at least the Disney Plus reboot has solved a long-running mystery. 

The era-defining comedy series has officially been given the greenlight, with the main cast (except Dewey star Erik Per Sullivan, who’s going to Harvard) set to return. That includes Breaking Bad’s Walter White as Hal and Frankie Muniz as the titular middle child.

Although the new four-episode season doesn’t have a release date just yet, it’s expected to land sometime in 2025. And, according to Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman, it will be titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, a play on the opening song lyrics. 

While plot details remain largely under wraps, we do know it will focus on a family reunion for Hal and Lois’ 40th wedding anniversary. And it’s also set to answer some of the binge-worthy TV show’s enduring questions.

Malcolm in the Middle reboot reveals Hal and Lois’ sixth child

First up, the reboot has already cracked one mystery: the identity of Hal and Lois’ sixth child. Casting details reveal that the family’s youngest child Kelly – like the actor playing them, Vaughan Murrae – is non-binary.

If you remember, in the Malcolm in the Middle finale, Hal was excited to finally have some alone time. However, his peace is interrupted when Lois discovers she’s pregnant again. This cliffhanger was never resolved until now. 

Kelly is described as “the youngest child of Lois and Hal, who is self-sufficient, gets good grades and is already wiser than most of the family.” It will be interesting to see how the family dynamic changed after their new arrival. 

While this mystery is finally resolved, another still hangs in the balance: what exactly is the family’s surname? It’s long been speculated to be “Wilkerson,” based on the pilot script, but the show famously never confirmed it – a running gag that fans still debate to this day. 

With the reboot already tying up one loose end, now is the perfect opportunity to settle the surname mystery once and for all, and maybe even wrap up a few more lingering questions while they’re at it.