Frankie Muniz Reflects on Leaving Hollywood: “I Don’t Know Where I’d Be If I Stayed”

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Frankie Muniz, famous for playing Malcolm in the popular TV show “Malcolm in the Middle,” is getting back into acting after a long hiatus. He stepped away from Hollywood in 2006 to become a professional race car driver. Now, he’s returning to the role in a new series, “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” which will debut on Disney+ in 2026.

Frankie Muniz explained to The Post why he stepped away from acting when his career was peaking. He said that after ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ finished in 2006, he received many movie offers, but he chose to pursue a career as a professional race car driver instead.

I started acting when I was eight and continued until I was twenty-two. It was my whole life, and I enjoyed it, but I also felt a desire to explore other possibilities.

You know, I was reading an interview with Muniz, and he was talking about leaving acting to pursue racing. He said he honestly doesn’t know if it was the right decision – he wonders where life would have taken him if he’d stayed in Hollywood. But ultimately, he feels completely content with where he is now. He also shared that taking a break from acting actually gave him a renewed appreciation for both racing and the possibility of returning to acting someday. It’s cool to hear someone find that balance!

Racer Muniz started competing in NASCAR in 2023, returning to the sport after recovering from a wrist injury. Beyond racing, he’s also appeared in TV shows like “The Rookie,” “New Amsterdam,” and “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens,” and will be in the 2025 science fiction movie “Renner.”

As a huge fan of ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ I was so excited to hear about the revival! It’s going to be amazing to see Frankie Muniz back as Malcolm, alongside Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston reprising their roles as his parents. Plus, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield are returning as his brothers! Muniz himself said being back on set felt really comfortable, which is awesome to hear – it sounds like they’re picking up right where they left off.

He described feeling instantly at home on set, saying, “It felt like immediate.” Revisiting the original episodes with his wife in 2017 gave him a fresh outlook. He explained, “I realized while filming that I wasn’t becoming Malcolm, or Malcolm becoming me, but I was incredibly comfortable playing the character… I really loved it and didn’t want the experience to end.”

Some of the original actors won’t be back for the new project. Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, decided not to participate, and Frankie Muniz supports his choice. Muniz explained that Sullivan is happy with his life now, away from acting, and they didn’t want to pressure him into something he wasn’t comfortable with.

Muniz shared his admiration for working with Bryan Cranston once more. He often says Cranston is his favorite actor, praising his dedication and commitment to excellence, even when not actively filming. Muniz was also impressed by Cranston’s kindness and genuine nature towards everyone on set, which motivated him to adopt a similar approach.

Muniz is clearly thrilled to be acting again and is looking forward to what the future holds. He especially mentioned being excited about the possibility of revisiting his role as Malcolm, or taking on other acting projects. “I’m excited for that opportunity,” he shared.

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2025-11-06 19:47