First Look at ‘King of the Hill’ Revival Confirms Longtime Character’s Return
The long-awaited King of the Hill revival is set to premiere on Hulu on August 5, and a newly released clip has fans buzzing.
The sneak peek introduces an updated Hill family and confirms the return of a key character, Nancy Gribble, alongside the show’s signature quirky humor.
In the clip, Hank and Peggy Hill, along with Dale and Nancy Gribble, visit the George W. Bush Museum. Hank is overjoyed, marveling at a baseball thrown by the former president and a pen used to stop offshore drilling. Peggy, however, is bored and jokingly tells Nancy she might end her life if forced to stay longer.
Nancy quips back, “You’re not allowed to leave me here alone,” delivering the deadpan humor fans love. The scene confirms Nancy, previously voiced by Ashley Gardner, is back, though it’s unclear if Gardner will reprise the role. Her marriage to Dale appears intact, but whether her past affair with John Redcorn will resurface remains a mystery.
Now this is what I call a good time. All episodes of #KingOfTheHill's new season drop Aug 4th on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/ioEoOLyKnD
— kingofthehill (@kingofthehill) June 18, 2025
The revival brings big changes for the Hill family. A new intro reveals Hank, Peggy, and Bobby returning to Arlen, Texas, after years in Saudi Arabia. Now retired, Hank and Peggy face a transformed hometown. “Hank and Peggy Hill are now retired and return to a changed Arlen after years of working in Saudi Arabia,” Hulu stated in a press release. Bobby, now 21, is a chef at a Dallas restaurant blending German, sushi, and robata cuisine, much to Hank’s dismay, it doesn’t use propane. “He’s become more centered and almost a little bit more like his dad,” said Pamela Adlon, Bobby’s voice actor.
At the ATX Television Festival in May 2025, co-creator Mike Judge shared that aging the characters was key to the revival’s vision. “Because it’s such a grounded realistic show, it just felt right that they would be older,” he said.
Hank struggles with modern changes like bike lanes and scooters, which clash with his traditional values. “Hank kinda liked that women were covered up and modest [in Saudi Arabia],” Judge noted, hinting at Hank’s frustration with Arlen’s evolution.
The clip and intro suggest the revival will keep the show’s dry, awkward humor while exploring how the Hills navigate a new era. Questions linger about why the family returned and whether Dale achieved his mayoral ambitions, as teased in the intro.
I’m excited for King of the Hill’s return, especially with its blend of nostalgia and fresh challenges for Hank in a changed world. The clip’s humor feels true to the original, and I’m curious to see how Bobby’s chef life and Nancy’s role play out.
Aging the characters was a smart move to keep the show grounded. What do you think about the revival’s direction? Are you looking forward to Hank’s take on modern Arlen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!