This, folks, is one of those situations that seems like a dud idea on paper until you really ponder the implications.
The US FOX network, being the barrel scrapers that they are, are well and truly on board the revival train that’s been steamrolling through the biz as of late. The network has already backed in revivals of shows like ‘The X-Files,’ ‘24,’ and ‘Prison Break,’ and now its turning to a long-lost animated gem, if reports are to be believed.
Variety is reporting that the network is in “preliminary conversations” to bring back Mike Judge‘s extremely good and hugely beloved ‘King of the Hill‘ for all-new episodes.
The OG series left the air in September of 2009, but if Fox officials have their way a new season will be coming to fruition at some point soon, meaning we’ll get to see how Hank Hill and the rest of Arlen are operating in a Donald Trump America which is, frankly, intriguing as shit.
Dana Walden, who is the chairman and CEO of the Fox Television Group, confirmed the network’s interest in the revival in a short statement:
We have had preliminary conversations with (show co-creators) Greg Daniels and Mike Judge. I would like to explore that. We had a very preliminary conversation about that. Given what’s going on in the country, I think they had a point of view about how those characters would respond.
My take? Peggy owns a ‘Make America Great Again‘ hat and gets swept up in her own hubris, until she catches herself shouting at Kahn to get out of her country. Dale gets deep into internet conspiracy theories and the concept of “fake news.” Bobby struggles to reconcile his father’s love of propane and propane accessories with a newfound conservationist streak after watching a knock-off, alarmist, fire-and-brimstone version of ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’ Bill is an out-and-out doomsday prepper. And amidst all that Hank has to deal with the utter indignity of his first prostate exam.
One sad note to ponder should a new series go ahead: the role of Luanne would have to be recast, given that original voice actor Brittany Murphy sadly passed away a few short months after the original series finale.
Things are, quite obviously, in very preliminary stages for the time being. But given Fox’s established keenness to bleed the old well as dry as they possibly can, don’t be surprised when a new season arrives sooner rather than later.
