The King of the Hill reboot is officially in the works at Hulu, and the creators will make a few key changes to the familiar classic animated series before it returns to screens. Set in the fictional city of Arlen, Texas, King of the Hill revolves around propane salesman Hank Hill, substitute Spanish teacher Peggy, and their aspiring prop comic son, Bobby. King of the Hill set itself apart from the absurdist antics of shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy with a more grounded and realistic portrayal of American family life.
After months of rumors and speculation, Hulu picked up the King of the Hill reboot in January 2023. Hulu Streaming Originals president Craig Erwich said, “We are all so excited to welcome back Hank, Peggy, and Bobby, and to see what they have to say about the world we live in and continue the conversations we began years ago.” When King of the Hill returns for its highly anticipated revival, it won’t be the same show that fans remember. The creators are making a few crucial changes to update the series for a modern audience.
The King Of The Hill Reboot Will Have A 15-Year Time Jump
Series co-creator Greg Daniels has confirmed (via Collider) that the King of the Hill reboot will pick up 15 years after the original series. Daniels said, “The idea is a time jump, yeah, so the characters are a bit older.” A time jump is a smart way to avoid rehashing the original show. Making the characters older will completely change the dynamic; the King of the Hill reboot will play like a totally different series. It will be interesting to see Hank and Peggy in their twilight years, contending with modern developments like social media and artificial intelligence.
The biggest difference after a 15-year time jump will be that Hank and Peggy Hill’s son Bobby will have grown into adulthood. Unlike other animated characters like Bart Simpson and Stewie Griffin, Bobby aged throughout the seasons in King of the Hill. At the beginning of the series, he was 11 years old, but by the end of it, when King of the Hill was canceled after season 13, he had become a teenager. After the 15-year time jump, he’ll be 28 years old in the King of the Hill reboot. Bobby might even have a family of his own when the sequel series catches up with him.
The King Of The Hill Reboot Doesn't Have A Release Date
The King of the Hill reboot doesn’t have an official release date yet. According to Daniels, “We haven’t worked out the contracts yet,” and although they have the concept ready, he and co-creator Mike Judge still “need to figure out how we would do it well.” Brittany Murphy passed away in 2009, so the creators have to come up with a way to handle her character, Luanne Platter, respectfully. Daniels added that he and Judge are “both pretty busy,” so the King of the Hill reboot could be a while away.