The highly anticipated revival of the beloved animated series “King of the Hill” is set to pay tribute to late cast members Johnny Hardwick and Jonathan Joss in a heartfelt way. Both Hardwick and Joss, who voiced their characters on Season 14 of the show, will be honored through memoriam cards that will run during episodes of the upcoming revival on Hulu.
During the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, the executive producers announced these touching tributes. They also shared insights into how they plan to reference the characters of Luanne and Lucky, originally voiced by the late Brittany Murphy and rock star Tom Petty, as well as the recent passing of musician Chuck Mangione, another integral part of the “King of the Hill” universe.
The tribute to Hardwick had been previously revealed at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, where Joss was also in attendance. However, in a tragic turn of events, just two days later, Joss himself passed away in San Antonio, adding another layer of poignancy to the memoriam cards.
Hardwick, known for his role as conspiracy theorist Dale Gribble, voiced the first six episodes of the revived Season 14 before his untimely death in 2023. Following his passing, Toby Huss, who voiced other characters in the original run of the show, took on the role of Dale.
The “King of the Hill” Comic-Con panel featured stars and creators discussing the show’s return, including new characters voiced by Keith David and Anthony “Citric” Campos, as well as Ronny Chieng taking over the role of Kahn. The panelists delved into where their characters are now, aging them appropriately and reflecting on the experience of voicing these iconic roles once again.
Set to premiere on Hulu on August 4th, the series will follow Hank and Peggy Hill as they return to a changed Arlen, Texas after working in Saudi Arabia to secure their retirement. The revival promises to reconnect fans with beloved characters while introducing new storylines and developments.
With original co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels at the helm, along with showrunner Saladin Patterson, the revival of “King of the Hill” aims to capture the essence of the original series while exploring new avenues for the characters and their dynamic relationships. Fans can look forward to a nostalgic yet fresh take on this classic animated show.
