‘King of the Hill' Showrunner on Writing Hank Hill for a Different Era

King of the Hill Boss on Hulu's No F-Bombs, Recasting, Animation Criticisms

Saladin K. Patterson talks to The Hollywood Reporter about how he kept the revival's sense of humor and characters true to the original, and writing for a Disney-owned streamer about a present-day Texas community. 

hollywoodreporter.com

‘King of the Hill’ is back for a 14th season on Hulu, picking up with Hank Hill returning to Arlen, Texas after a decade living and working in Saudi Arabia. Showrunner Saladin K. Patterson says the reboot really clicked after a surprise table read of an old episode at San Francisco Sketch Fest in 2017—sparking the question, “Why now?” and setting the stage for the new chapters.

Patterson’s challenge? Keeping that classic, deadpan humor and those beloved characters intact while translating their world for a Disney-owned streamer and a modern audience. Expect familiar small-town Texas vibes, freshly updated for today’s social and cultural landscape.