Malcolm in the MiddlestarsFrankie MunizandCraig Lamar Traylorreunite! The two, who portrayed besties Malcolm (Muniz) and Stevie (Traylor) on the hit sitcom, appear in the upcoming science fiction thriller,Renner. Directed by Robert Rippberger,Rennerfollows Muniz’s title character, a computer prodigy who develops Selenus, an AI coach, to help him overcome his insecurities, become more assertive, and find love. Unfortunately, Renner accidentally programs his controlling mother into Selenus. Check out the trailer below.
Alongside the trailer,Entertainment Weeklyhas released several images from behind the scenes (you can check those out below) of Muniz and Traylor reuniting on set (Traylor sadly does not appear in the movie’s trailer). AMalcolm in the Middlerevivalis currently in the works, so it may not be the last time we see the two sharing screen time. Speaking about reuniting with Traylor, Muniz told EW:
“It was amazing to work with Craig Lamar Traylor again! I mean, we have so many memories from ‘Malcolm in the Middle’and basically grew up together. It had been years since I’d seen him, and we had so much fun catching up on set. I was thrilled he could be part of it. It’s a very small role, but it’s definitely a cool little Easter egg for those who notice and connect the dots. There aren’t many actors in the film, but I’m glad he is one of them.”
Frankie Muniz is “Terrified” of AI
AI is a current hot - and divisive - topic. While some argue that AI has the potential to make our lives easier,concerns about ethics, job loss, and misuse remain. In an interview with the publication, Muniz talks about starring in a movie centered around AI:
“It’s fun to be part of something where AI is on the forefront. My character is trying to develop AI to help people and make the world a better place, but in the end, I’m not quite sure if he accomplishes that.”
Muniz adds thatRenneracts as something of a cautionary tale, saying the takeaway is that “no matter how good your intentions are with AI, there still is a little bit of bias in whoever created the AI.” The trailer’s tense final moments highlight the titular character’s descent into paranoia and fear, and that fear is something Muniz can relate to, as he says personally “terrified of AI.”
“What we’ve seen so far, what’s been developed, and how things have changed scares the heck out of me. But I’m also the person who thinks the world was better before we had cell phones, so I might not be the best person to ask on a personal level.”
A tip for movie watchers from Muniz: “staythrough some end credits.” Along with Muniz, Renner stars Violett Beane; Marcia Gay Harden voices Selenus.
Malcolm in the Middle Set Became So Bad, Frankie Muniz Walked Off Two Episodes
Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz reveals he was absent from two episodes due to conflicts on set, “Everyone was so afraid.”
Muniz is set to return for theMalcolm in the Middlerevival, ordered by Disney+ last month. Original series creator Linwood Boomer is returning alongside stars Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek.A four-episode special has been greenlit, but no premiere date has been announced.Malcolm in the Middleaired on Fox for seven seasons, from 2000-2006. The critically lauded sitcom earned seven Emmy Awards (from 33 nominations), and is available to stream on Hulu.
