King of the Hill Revival Debuts on Hulu with Adult Bobby, New Cast Dynamics

King of the Hill has returned with a Hulu revival that ages its characters about a decade, featuring a 21-year-old Bobby Hill now working as a chef in Dallas, voiced again by Pamela Adlon to maintain continuity and fan comfort. Showrunner Saladin K. Patterson emphasized the importance of preserving the original voice, calling it 'magical,' while exploring Bobby's adult life, including his romantic experiences, which reflects the show's tradition of grounded, realistic character interactions. The revival reunites much of the original cast and creative team, who describe the recording sessions as a family reunion and praise the show's ability to blend humor with emotional depth. Veteran writer Norm Hiscock, the only original series writer returning for the reboot, highlighted the challenge and excitement of evolving Bobby's character while retaining his core traits. Behind the scenes, the production has faced significant losses with the deaths of voice actors Brittany Murphy, Tom Petty, and most recently Johnny Hardwick (voice of Dale Gribble), leading to the respectful recasting or off-screen departure of certain characters. The revival preserves the heart and humor of the original series while updating its setting and dynamics for a modern audience.