Will 'King of the Hill' Recast the Late Johnny Hardwick?
Fox’s long-running animated series King of the Hill is the latest 1990s favorite to get the remake treatment. The original series, which ran for 13 seasons between 1997 and 2010, garnered multiple Emmy nominations and a devoted cult following—and now, it’s returning for a brand-new run on Hulu.
King of the Hill is a slice-of-life comedy set in the fictional small Texas town of Arlen. It follows Hank Hill, a hardworking salesman specializing in “propane and propane accessories,” and his relationships with his wife Peggy, a substitute teacher, their 13-year-old son, Bobby, and an array of friends and neighbors. Rumors have been swirling for years about the possibility of a revival, and early in 2023 it was finally confirmed that co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels would deliver a new season for Hulu. While much of the original cast will also be returning, it’ll pick up with the characters many years on from where the Season 13 finale left them.
Here’s everything we know so far about the reboot, including details on returning cast members, storylines, and when fans can expect to see new episodes drop.
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What is the King of the Hill revival about?
Co-creator Greg Daniels told Collider that the new season will pick up after a 15-year time jump, meaning that almost as much time will have passed onscreen as it has in reality. The most significant difference this will make to the show is that Bobby is now 28 years old, and will be relating to his parents and neighbors in a very different way than he did as a teenager.
"I think we're going to time jump in [King of the Hill] a little bit so that Bobby's going to be older, and it's going to be interesting,” actor Stephen Root recently confirmed to ScreenRant. Timeline aside, the revival’s plot details are being kept under wraps.
Who is in the King of the Hill revival cast?
A majority of the original cast will be reprising their roles in the reboot, including co-creator Mike Judge, who plays both the lead role of Hank and the supporting role of neighborhood ladies’ man Boomhauer. Other returning voice actors are:
Kathy Najimy as Peggy
Pamela Adlon as Bobby
Stephen Root as Bill the barber
Lauren Tom as high-achieving student Connie
Will Johnny Hardwick be in the King of the Hill revival?
Hardwick, who voiced local conspiracy theorist Dale in the original show, sadly passed away in August 2023, at the age of 64. He had already completed voice work on “a couple” of episodes for the revival at that point, per TVLine, so although Hardwick’s presence will be deeply missed going forward, Dale will return for at least some of the upcoming season. It’s not yet clear whether the role will be recast after that point, or if Dale will be written out of the show altogether.
“Johnny Hardwick was an incredibly beloved member of the King of the Hill family, whose tremendous talent, brilliant humor and friendship will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to work with him over the past 25 years,” reps for 20th Television Animation and Hulu said in a joint statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family as we mourn the loss of one of the animation greats. His voice gave life to one of our most iconic characters, and he will be truly missed.”
Will Brittany Murphy's character be recast in the King of the Hill revival?
Actress Brittany Murphy, who voiced the role of the Hills’ 21-year-old niece, Luanne, tragically died in 2009, shortly before the finale of the original show aired. It hasn’t yet been confirmed whether Luanne will be recast or written out of the new season.
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When was the last episode of King of the Hill?
The series finale aired on May 6, 2010, on Fox.
What is the King of the Hill revival release date?
A release date hasn’t yet been announced. However, we know that table reads for the new season began in April 2023, and at least some episodes have been completed so far. Based on those tidbits, an early 2024 release date is possible, but nothing has been confirmed.
Is there a trailer for the King of the Hill revival?
A trailer hasn’t been released yet, but watch this space.
How to watch the King of the Hill revival
King of the Hill will stream exclusively on Hulu. Although the episode schedule hasn’t yet been released, Hulu is known for releasing its original shows weekly rather than following the “all at once” binge model, so it’s safe to assume the same pattern will hold for King of the Hill.