Frankie Muniz Says His Character in Malcolm in the Middle ‘Sucked’: ‘Worst Character on the Show’ (Exclusive)

Frankie Muniz is sharing his honest opinion of his titular character on Malcolm in the Middle.

The actor, 39, starred in the 2000s sitcom for all seven seasons, and he spoke with PEOPLE about news of its upcoming revival ahead of the 25th anniversary later this year. Although the series ended in 2006, Muniz says it wasn’t until eight years ago that he and his wife Paige finally watched all the episodes — and he realized Malcolm wasn’t that great of a guy.

“She looked at me at the very end and she goes, ‘You weren’t acting at all. You are literally Malcolm,’” he recalls. “And I’m like, ‘I don’t know how to take that because Malcolm sucked.’ He was the worst character on that show!”

Despite his feelings about Malcolm, Muniz notes that he is “obviously so thrilled” for the reboot and is eager “to get back on set with everybody.”

“We started talking about [a reboot] literally 10 years ago — me and [costar] Bryan Cranston — and slowly been working at it and it’s finally a reality,” he reveals. “So I’m really excited. I had to do some chemistry reads. I can’t tell you with what characters, but new characters that would be on the show. And it was so weird to go back and be with Linwood Boomer, the creator, and Ken Kwapis, the director, and be back in that mindset.”

“Oddly, it was right at home,” Muniz adds.

Disney+ announced the four-episode Malcolm in the Middle revival in December 2024, which Muniz followed with a video featuring him, Cranston and Kaczmarek celebrating the news.

“I have been waiting for this moment for 18 years,” he said. “Let’s find out where Malcolm and his family are now.”

“25 years since we premiered Malcolm in the Middle. I’m so excited… that I may have peed just a little bit,” Cranston, 68, joked before Kaczmarek, also 68, added, “What a delight that I get to yell at that kid again! We’re very, very excited about coming back together and seeing what this family has been up to.”

The reboot will show Malcolm and his daughter as they are “drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party,” according to a press release.

“Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and relatability,” Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again. With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved — along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.”

“Malcolm in the Middle literally changed the face of the television comedy landscape when it premiered two decades ago, redefining what the genre could be,” Karey Burke, president of 20th Television, added. “When Linwood Boomer suggested it might be time to bring everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back for a bit of a reunion, we couldn’t think of a more iconic and influential series to revisit, along with a truly brilliant cast to reunite.”