20th Television Animation Developing New “King of the Hill” Reboot
Disney has announced that 20th Television Animation has been given a series order for a revival of iconic animated hit “King of the Hill,” which will be created and executive produced by original co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, as well as incoming executive producer and showrunner Saladin Patterson. Additionally, 3 Arts’ Michael Rotenberg and Howard Klein, and Bandera Entertainment’s Dustin Davis serve as executive producers of the show, which will take place in fictional Arlen, Texas, in present-day USA.
The animated series will star original voice talent, including Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, Johnny Hardwick and Lauren Tom. The reboot has been in the works since the 2017 San Francisco Sketchfest, where Judge and Daniels reconnected with the cast and celebrated the 20th anniversary of “King of the Hill.”
The Emmy-winning series, which Time named one of “The Greatest TV Shows of All Time,” ran for 13 seasons on Fox and now streams on Hulu. “King of the Hill” depicted the suburban Texas world with faithfulness and love, presenting characters that were unusually complex and three-dimensional for a cartoon. “They embodied all the desires, needs and contradictions that make up the universal human experience, undermining assumptions about ‘red’ and ‘blue’ culture in the process,” said The Atlantic.
The show, set in the fictional Arlen, Texas, followed the life of Hank Hill (Mike Judge), an enthusiastic seller of propane and propane accessories; his wife, Peggy (Kathy Najimy), local Boggle champ and substitute teacher; and their 13-year-old son, Bobby (Pamela Adlon), who defies any expectation his father had for a son. Hank’s friends – conspiracy theorist Dale (Johnny Hardwick), military barber Bill (Stephen Root) and cool but inarticulate Boomhauer (Judge), along with Peggy’s friends Minh (Lauren Tom) and meteorologist Nancy (Ashley Gardner), and Bobby’s friend Connie (Tom) help the Hills navigate a changing world.
Craig Erwich, president, ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals said in a statement:
“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. This show has all of the perfect ingredients to meet this moment in animation at Hulu, and we’re so thankful to be having those conversations alongside this talented group.”
Showrunner and executive producer Saladin Patterson added:
“Yeah, man I tell you whot man, that dang Ol’ Greg, talking about ‘O.G.’ and then that Mike Judge … Inspirations, man … the original show, dang ol’ classic … Got my kids, man, walking around talking about ‘That’s my purse! I don’t know you!’ Feeling blessed, man, I tell you whot ‘Feel so Good’ is a great song, I don’t care what no-dang-body says … “
Marci Proietto, executive vice president, 20th Television Animation, also said in a statement:
“I’m so lucky to have been a part of this show from the very beginning and couldn’t be more excited to visit Arlen, Texas, once again with Mike, Greg and Saladin, who together are bringing a whole new perspective to the original series. We all want to thank the fans for their overwhelming support because they helped make this happen, and I can’t wait to share this new iteration through the lens of 2023 America. In the words of our beloved Peggy Hill: ‘Ho yeah!,’
The original series received critical acclaim and accolades, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. The series has been translated into numerous languages and aired in 50 countries around the world. The original series is available to stream now on Hulu and on Disney+ in a number of countries, including Australia.
This new revival will be released on Hulu in the United States, and we should expect to see it released globally as a Star Original on Disney+.
Are you excited about the return of “King Of The Hill”? Let us know on social media!
Roger Palmer
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