Propane and Prophecy: King of the Hill Revival Reveals August Release, New Credits, and a World-Weary Hank Returns!

Get ready to say “Yep” again, because Hulu’s highly anticipated King of the Hill revival is officially just around the corner! A release date of August 4 has been announced, and to whet our appetites, we’ve been treated to an early premiere of the new incarnation of the show’s iconic opening credits, complete with that unforgettable theme song by The Refreshments.

But that’s not all, I tell ya h’what. Show creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, alongside new showrunner Saladin K. Patterson, recently sat down with Vulture to spill some details about where we’ll find our favorite Arlen residents when the new season drops.

Hank’s Sojourn and a Changed Arlen

The new credits sequence subtly hints at a significant change: Hank and Peggy Hill haven’t been in their familiar Arlen neighborhood for a while. As it turns out, Hank has been slinging propane and propane accessories… in Saudi Arabia! The revival sees him finally moving back into his old homestead. Interestingly, his time abroad was spent in a corporate community designed to offer American employees an idealized, almost time-capsuled version of their home country.

“We liked the idea that he had been gone for a while, and the most Mayberry kind of freezer that you could put the family in was an Aramco base, which is like an idealized kind of white-picket-fence America,” explained Greg Daniels. “They had gone to Saudi Arabia and they were just coming back and had missed out on a lot of recent, uh, cultural changes.”

Mike Judge added, “A lot has happened in the world since the original run of the show ended. There’s just a lot more for Hank to complain about.”

Character Evolutions and Shifting Tides

So, what else is new?

• Bobby Hill is all grown up (though the incomparable Pamela Adlon is thankfully still voicing him with much the same beloved tone).

• In a surprising twist, Dale Gribble is now running for mayor of Arlen. Even more intriguingly, Dale’s once fringe political beliefs have somehow found their way into the mainstream.

Despite these potentially politically charged developments, showrunner Saladin K. Patterson emphasized that the revived King of the Hill will, true to its roots, focus on the relatable foibles of modern life and the enduring relationships between its characters, rather than becoming a vehicle for biting political satire.

“I think focusing on small, relatable things was the way that we were able to steer clear of things that were gonna feel like gratuitous satire, on-the-nose, or just ineffective,” Patterson stated. He pointed out the simplicity of just labeling viewpoints as “conservative” or “liberal.”

“Hank always represented the sensible middle, the old show did a great job handling the extremes and kind of pushing people towards what the common-sense middle was,” Patterson continued. “Well, Hank’s been gone, and while he’s gone, the country’s changed so much that where Hank stood in the middle isn’t really the middle anymore.”

Greg Daniels reiterated the show’s core identity: “It always was a very specific show. It’s about these characters who live around this alley. It’s a character comedy. I hope no one has an expectation that it’s a late-night show. Animation takes a long time. We’re not ripping headlines. It’s about character and culture.”

As a longtime fan with, let’s say, firmly held beliefs about these characters, this focus on character growth and evolving relationships is incredibly encouraging. While revivals of beloved shows can be a mixed bag, the thoughtful approach to updating the premise while retaining the show’s heart offers a genuine sense of optimism.

All 10 episodes of the new King of the Hill revival will premiere on Hulu on August 4. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our list of the best new TV shows arriving in 2025 and beyond.