TheKing of the Hillreboot trailer has revealed a key detail about Bobby Hill that makes the series even more exciting.King of the Hilloriginally aired on FOX from 1997-2009 and followed Hank Hill, his family, and friends in Arlen, Texas. In the age of sequels, reboots, and reimagings,King of the Hillis returningfor new episodes on Hulu on Jul 13, 2025. Creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are back to executive produce the show, with Judge voicing Hank Hill and Boomhauer.
While many cast members are reprising their roles,King of the Hill’s casthas seen anumber of members pass away since its final episode. Brittany Murphy, who played Luanne, passed away in 2009. Rock star Tom Petty, who voiced the recurring character Lucky, passed in 2017. SinceKing of the Hillseason 14 entered production, Dale Gribble and John Redcorn actors Johnny Hardwick and Jonathan Joss both died after recording some of the new episodes. While there has been tragedy with the cast, a Bobby Hill reveal makes the new season feel like the classic show.
Pamela Adlon Returns To Voice Bobby
Many young boys in animated shows are often played by female voice actors. One of the most prominent examples of this isNancy Cartwright voicing Bart Simpsonfor the entirety ofThe Simpsons. This industry trend also included Pamela Adlon, who voiced Bobby throughoutKing of the Hill.Adlon is returning to portray Bobby again,and a new video shows how the actor will perform the role.
In the video released for Father’s Day, clips of Hank and Bobby are shown as the pair reconnect. Hank has little to no changes, still enjoying simple pleasures in life without displaying too much emotion. While Bobby idolized his father, he always had interests separate from Hank and forged his own path.
The voice helps connect the new season in a way that feels familiar to those who saw the series when it was first airing.
Adlon has noticeably aged Bobby’s voice upfrom the last time the character was seen, but is still instantly recognizable in the role. The voice helps connect the new season in a way that feels familiar to those who saw the series when it was first airing. With any show returning after a long break, there is always concern if it will be able to recapture the spirit of its original run, but Adlon having Bobby sound similar comes as a huge relief.
How Old Bobby Is In The King Of The Hill Revival Show
The Cast Has Been Aged Up
The majority of animated shows do not have any characters who physically age. Even other revivals on Hulu, likeFuturama, still kept the same character models when they returned.King of the Hillis taking a different approach and aging up the entire cast. The characters who will show the most physical changes will be the younger ones, like Bobby, Connie, and Joseph.
Throughout thirteen seasons, Bobby and his friends only aged slightly. Though they went through significant life changes, like Connie getting her period and Joseph growing a small amount of facial hair, they did not age in real time. While Bobby was originally 11 years old, he ended the show at 13. In the revival,Bobby will be 21 and working as a chef at a fusion restaurant.
Updating Bobby’s age will play a massive role in the series. While Hank always strove to be a good father and usually came through for his son, the two were very different. Having Bobby be in his early 20s adds a new dynamic as Hank will have to deal not only with modern issues, but also how his adult son sees the world. The two will be on more equal footing than just having Hank trying to raise Bobby. Hearing how Adlon will play an older Bobby is an exciting return to form forKing of the Hill.
King of the Hill
Cast
King of the Hill is an animated series centered around Hank Hill, a propane salesman in Texas. The show explores Hank’s life with his confident wife Peggy, son Bobby, and niece Luanne, as they navigate challenges to Hank’s conservative values involving family and his beer-drinking neighbors.
