NEW YORK, April 8 -- In the early 2000s, television viewers first discovered "Malcolm in the Middle," the hilarious tale of a teenager trying to survive the antics of his dysfunctional family.

Twenty-five years later, the "Malcolm" gang is back on Disney+, with nearly all of the original cast including Emmy winner Bryan Cranston - part of a wave of revivals tapping into a public craving for cosy nostalgia.

The strategy is also a moneymaker for networks and streaming services, as tried-and-true content comes with minimal financial risk - and often huge fan interest.

From the Trojan War to Superman, "we've been continuing to take characters, universes, dramatic spaces, and repurpose them for a long, long time," says Robert Thompson, a pr...