A revival of the animated comedy series King of the Hill is set to arrive sometime in the near future. Series creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels announced in January of this year the formation of their new animation company Bandera Entertainment, which is intended to be a platform for developing several new shows. Among their list of announced projects, none has garnered more attention than the revival of Judge and Daniels’ classic sitcom King of The Hill. Here’s everything to know about the King of the Hill reboot.

Joining the FOX network’s comedy scene in 1997, King of the Hill surprised audiences as one of the decade’s more grounded animated shows. Episodes follow the everyday life of earnest propane salesman Hank Hill, who lives in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas with his outgoing wife Peggy and their quirky son Bobby. Compared to more absurd comedies like The Simpsons, King of the Hill won audiences’ attention with its down-to-earth characters and relatable themes. For 13 seasons, the show earned consistent success until its abrupt cancellation in 2009.

Despite ending over a decade ago, King of the Hill is still loved by audiences, truly standing the test of time. A King of the Hill reboot has been in demand for a while. The show has gained a cult following over the years and the original creators’ enthusiasm for the revival strongly indicates that they are dedicated to the project. The following is currently known about the King of the Hill reboot.

King Of The Hill’s Revival Is Finally Coming

Judge and Daniels have been planning a King of the Hill reboot since 2017, negotiating with FOX. Unfortunately, the negotiations yielded no results, though neither the show’s creators nor the network expressed why an agreement was never reached. Considering the timeframe, the network most likely declined the proposal to focus on other productions, including a revival of the popular sci-fi series The X-Files. Bandera Entertainment is providing Judge and Daniels with the resources to begin production on the revival.

Why King Of The Hill Was Canceled

King of the Hill maintained consistently positive ratings but was dwarfed by the growing success of FOX’s accompanying animated shows. In the mid-2000s, comedian Seth MacFarlane became a household name at FOX with his shows Family Guy and American Dad!, both recognized for their fast-paced, off-kilter humor. King of the Hill lacked the high viewership that other programs had, effectively leading to the show’s cancellation and replacement by MacFarlane’s The Cleveland Show, a spin-off centered on a Family Guy side character.

Where Will King Of The Hill Air?

The FOX network would be an understandable choice for King of the Hill’s return since it was originally a Fox IP, but the lack of success from 2017’s negotiations makes this less probable. Instead, the revival may air on a streaming platform, such as Netflix. Previous episodes of King of the Hill are viewable on Hulu, raising the chances that it may be streamed on platforms other than FOX. The upcoming Beavis and Butthead revival is streaming on Paramount+, so there might be some arrangment made to bring Judge’s other properties over.

What King Of The Hill’s Revival Could Be About

Neither of King of the Hill’s creators has disclosed significant story details outside of a time jump, skipping a few years into the future. This concept opens numerous possibilities for the revival’s plot, showing older versions of the Hill family and their friends contending with new challenges. Moreover, the revival has the potential to definitively conclude the series, especially considering it is not the only project Judge or Daniels are producing. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels explained that he and Judge intend to have “more of a supervisory role [at Bandera Entertainment]… to help other people achieve their visions.” King of the Hill’s original ending came unexpectedly for both creators, meaning the revival could be Judge and Daniels’ farewell to the series before moving on to new productions.

Mike Judge Has Provided Hope Around The King Of The Hill Reboot

Mike Judge gave a promising, albeit succinct, update on the upcoming King Of The Hill reboot. Speaking at SDCC 2022, co-creator Judge answered a fan question on the King of the Hill renewal with “King of the Hill has a very good chance of coming back”. In defense of Judge’s briefness, the panel was on the upcoming Beavis and Butthead revival, but it’s still hopeful to hear that Hank, Peggy, and Bobby are still in his line of sight. Judge also spoke of a metaverse based on Beavis and Butthead, so it’s possible a King of the Hill reboot could soon follow the upcoming Paramount+ revival of Judge’s first show.

The Tragic Reason Luanne Can’t Return For The Reboot

The underrated Brittany Murphy voiced Luanne Platter, Hank and Peggy’s niece, on all 13 seasons of King of the Hill. Murphy tragically passed away in 2009 after suffering from pneumonia. There were four episodes left to air when she died, and since there was never a season 14, the question of Luanne’s recasting was never really addressed. Decades later, when the King of the Hill revival is being discussed in earnest by Mike Judge, it’s almost guaranteed Luanne will not be recast or appear in the reboot. The decades since its cancellation have only cemented the consensus that Luanne was one of the best King of the Hill characters, and Brittany Murphy’s performance is a key factor in the role’s ongoing positive reception.

The argument between Luanne and Hank over whether a trailer ceases to exist if it tips over, for example, is arguably one of the funniest moments of dialogue in all 13 seasons of King of the Hill. Recasting Luanne for the reboot would be disrespectful to Brittany Murphy’s legacy. Luanne doesn’t have to die, necessarily (although opening with a TV funeral for the character that’s also a tribute to the actress, as has been done in other sitcoms, would no doubt be emotional), but she does have to leave Arlen in such a way that the prospect of her return is ruled out entirely and without question. Luanne was an incredibly likable character on top of being funny, so a happy but conclusive ending for the beloved King of the Hill character would be a welcome addition.