‘King of the Hill’ showrunner emphasizes diverse casting in reboot

“King of the Hill” showrunner Saladin K. Patterson highlighted the importance of diverse casting for the animated series’ reboot this weekend, noting that “actors fit the characters that they’re portraying” as the show returns after 15 years.

The right fit: The new season addresses previous criticism by casting ethnically appropriate voice actors for several characters of color. For starters, Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng now voices Kahn Souphanousinphone, a Laotian American character previously played by Toby Huss. Kenneth Choi takes on Laotian American Ted Wassanasong, while Ki Hong Lee voices his son, Chane.

“We got very lucky in being able to have so many people who were big fans of the show, like Ronny Chieng, who grew up watching the show. He was a fan of it and came and joined us,” Patterson said Friday at San Diego Comic-Con. Meanwhile, co-creator Greg Daniels called Chieng “such a natural Kahn.”

About the show: Season 14 premieres on Hulu Aug. 4, moving the story forward 15 years to present-day Arlen, Texas. Hank and Peggy Hill return from their Aramco job in Saudi Arabia to find Bobby, now 21, working as executive chef at a German-Japanese fusion restaurant. The 10-episode season introduces modern elements to the Texas town, including ridesharing and gender-neutral restrooms.

The animated series originally ran from 1997 to 2010 until Fox canceled it for a “Family Guy” spinoff. Production faced tragedy when Johnny Hardwick, Dale Gribble’s voice actor, died in 2023 during recording, with Huss taking over the character.

Why this matters: The casting updates reflect broader entertainment industry efforts toward authentic representation in animated shows. Daniels has acknowledged that past casting choices did not prioritize authenticity, while Patterson characterized the new additions as “inviting some new people to the family.” Other animated series such as “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” have made similar changes to match character backgrounds with actors’ ethnicities.

For now, fans are waiting to see if viewer support will bring back beloved character Junichiro — Hank’s Japanese half-brother — with Patterson hinting at his potential return if the show continues.