The beloved animated series 'King of the Hill' is set to return for a 14th season on Hulu in 2025, more than 15 years after its original run ended. The revival, which the creators insist is an update rather than a reboot, will catch up with Hank Hill and his family and friends in present-day Arlen, Texas.
Co-creator Mike Judge revealed that discussions about bringing the show back began after a live reading of an episode at SF Sketchfest in 2017 received an enthusiastic fan response. The idea gained momentum when Judge and co-creator Greg Daniels decided to age the characters and set the story in the current day.
New showrunner Saladin K. Patterson, who previously turned down a writing opportunity on the original series to work on 'Frasier,' has joined the project. Patterson, an MIT engineering graduate, shares a background in engineering with Judge, who studied physics and worked in mechanical engineering. Judge and Daniels had sought other ways to collaborate with Patterson after their work together on the cancelled series 'The Cops.'
The new season consists of 10 episodes, all premiering on 4 August. The storyline sees Hank and his wife Peggy returning to Arlen after a decade in Saudi Arabia, where Hank worked for the Aramco oil company. The revival will continue the show's tradition of social commentary through the lens of Hank's practical, commonsense perspective, without being overtly political.
Voice actor Toby Huss has taken over the role of Dale Gribble following the death of original actor Johnny Hardwick. Huss noted that Dale's once-fringe conspiracy theories have become more mainstream in modern America. The cast also includes Kathy Najimy as Peggy, who praised Patterson's focused and efficient leadership.
