Hollywood loves a good "brother act." For a long time, the Masterson name was synonymous with that specific brand of early-2000s cool—the kind of messy, sarcastic energy that defined shows like That '70s Show and Malcolm in the Middle. You probably remember Danny as the world-weary Hyde and Chris as the rebellious, military-school-bound Francis. They weren't just brothers; they were a power duo in a very specific niche of TV history.
But man, things changed.
🔗 Read more: Who Is April Ryan's Husband? What People Often Get Wrong
If you’ve looked at the headlines lately, the contrast between these two is staggering. One is serving a life sentence in a California state prison. The other is quietly navigating a 2026 career resurgence while raising a family. It’s a wild, often dark story that involves secret church doctrines, high-stakes courtrooms, and a family legacy that’s been essentially split in two.
The Danny Masterson Conviction: 30 Years to Life
Let's be real: nobody expected the Hyde we grew up with to end up here. In September 2023, Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. This wasn't some sudden, "out of nowhere" event, though. The rumors and allegations had been swirling for years, dating back to 2017 when the first reports of sexual assault investigations broke.
The details that came out during the trial were harrowing. Prosecutors argued that Danny used his status within the Church of Scientology to silence his victims for decades. The women, who were also members of the church at the time, testified that they were told by church officials that what happened to them "wasn't rape" and that reporting a fellow Scientologist to the police would result in them being "excommunicated" or declared a "suppressive person."
Danny is currently incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony.
As of early 2026, he’s still fighting the system. He recently filed a petition for habeas corpus, basically claiming his trial lawyer, Philip Cohen, totally botched the defense. He’s arguing that they should have called more witnesses to push back on the Scientology-centric narrative. Honestly? It's a long shot. The court system has been pretty firm on this one. His ex-wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce shortly after the sentencing and has since moved on, even reportedly changing their daughter's last name recently to distance her from the fallout.
Where is Christopher Masterson in 2026?
While Danny’s life was imploding, Chris Masterson was doing the exact opposite. He stayed out of the tabloids. He focused on his DJ career. He became a dad.
But the big news for 2026 is the Malcolm in the Middle reboot.
Yeah, it's actually happening. Titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, the four-part event premiered in April 2026. Chris returned to his role as Francis, and fans are losing it. It’s weird seeing him as an older, more "settled" version of the character, especially considering how much his real-life family drama has mirrored the chaos of the show—just in a much darker way.
Chris has always been the "quieter" brother. Even when they were both at the height of their fame, he didn't seek the same kind of "cool guy" spotlight Danny did. He’s still a Scientologist, which is the elephant in the room for many fans. Unlike Danny, however, there have never been any criminal allegations against him. He’s managed to keep his professional reputation intact, which is why Hulu was willing to bring him back for the revival.
The Scientology Connection: A Family Divided?
You can't talk about the Mastersons without talking about the Church. It's the glue—and the gasoline—of their story. The family, led by their mother and manager Carol Masterson, has been deeply embedded in Scientology for decades.
- The Shared Business: Chris and Danny used to invest in restaurants together (remember Geisha House?).
- The Support System: During Danny's trial, the family was there. They stood by him.
- The Fallout: Since the conviction, the "Masterson Brand" has basically ceased to exist.
There’s a lot of speculation about how much Chris knew or didn't know. In Hollywood, silence is often taken as complicity, but Chris has walked a very fine line. He hasn't publicly denounced his brother, but he also hasn't gone on a press tour defending him. He’s just... working. It's a survival tactic that seems to be working for him, even if it leaves some fans feeling "kinda" uneasy about the whole thing.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Danny was convicted because of his religion. If you read the actual court transcripts, that’s not it. The religion was the mechanism used for the cover-up, not the reason for the crime. The jury focused on the testimonies of the women who described being drugged and assaulted at his Hollywood Hills home back in the early 2000s.
✨ Don't miss: Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lawrence: What Most People Get Wrong About Their Friendship
Another thing: people think he’ll be out in 15 years. Nope. With a "30 to life" sentence, he isn't even eligible for a parole hearing until he has served at least 25.5 years. By then, he’ll be in his 70s.
Moving Forward: The Legacy of the Masterson Brothers
It’s a tragedy in two parts. On one hand, you have the victims who finally got some semblance of justice after twenty years of being told they were crazy or "wrong." On the other, you have a once-beloved TV icon whose legacy is now a cautionary tale about power and institutional protection.
If you’re a fan of Malcolm in the Middle, watching Chris in the 2026 reboot feels bittersweet. You see the face, you hear the voice, and you can't help but think of the other Masterson sitting in a cell three hundred miles away.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Check the Appellate Records: If you want the real, unvarnished updates on Danny’s legal status, look at the California Courts of Appeal website. Don't rely on TikTok rumors; the actual filings tell the real story of his "habeas corpus" attempts.
- Support the Survivors: If the Scientology aspect of this story interests you, look into the work of Leah Remini or the Aftermath Foundation. They provide actual resources for people trying to leave the environment that allowed these crimes to be suppressed for so long.
- Separate the Art from the Artist (if you can): Many people are struggling with re-watching That '70s Show. If you can't stomach Hyde anymore, that's fair. But the Malcolm in the Middle reboot is being treated as Chris’s solo comeback—a way to reclaim his own name.
The Masterson story isn't over, but the chapters are written in very different books now. One is a legal thriller that's hit a dead end; the other is a sitcom revival trying to find the funny in a very complicated world.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With James Franco: Why the Actor Stayed "Canceled" for Years
To stay updated on the legal proceedings or the Malcolm in the Middle reboot's performance, you can monitor the Hollywood Reporter's legal beat or the official Hulu press room.</_