The long-awaited revival of King of the Hill on Hulu is set to feature a new voice for the character of Kahn Souphanousinphone, with comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng stepping into the role. Chieng joins the cast as a recurring guest star for the upcoming fourteenth season, which is scheduled to premiere on August 4.
The character of Kahn, Hank Hill’s ambitious Laotian neighbor, was previously voiced by Toby Huss throughout the show’s initial thirteen seasons, which ran from 1997 to 2009. Huss will remain part of the revival, transitioning to voice the character of Dale Gribble starting with Episode 7, following the passing of original voice actor Johnny Hardwick.
Addressing Representation in Animated Roles
Chieng’s casting for Kahn aligns with ongoing industry conversations about ensuring animated characters are voiced by actors who share their characters’ ethnic backgrounds. Chieng himself reportedly alluded to this casting in December during a podcast recording, explaining that the recasting for Kahn was intended to ensure an Asian actor would voice the character.
Kahn Souphanousinphone is married to Minh and is the father of Connie (both of whom will continue to be voiced by Lauren Tom). The character is known for his complex relationship with Hank Hill, often asserting his “superiority complex” while navigating suburban life in Arlen, Texas.
A Busy Schedule for Chieng
Ronny Chieng has maintained a busy schedule across various media. Beyond his role as a correspondent and host on The Daily Show, his recent Netflix special, Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It, was named best comedy special of 2024 by The New York Times. His film credits include Crazy Rich Asians, M3GAN, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In television, he has appeared in Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., American Born Chinese, Young Rock, and Interior Chinatown. He is also slated to appear in the upcoming Peacock series The Miniature Wife.
The King of the Hill revival features returning cast members Mike Judge (who also co-created the series with Greg Daniels), Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Stephen Root, and Lauren Tom. Judge and Daniels return as executive producers, joined by incoming executive producer and showrunner Saladin Patterson.
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The new season’s logline suggests a changed Arlen, Texas, for Hank and Peggy Hill, who return after years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia. Their son Bobby will be pursuing his dream as a chef in Dallas. The 10-episode season of King of the Hill will premiere on Hulu on August 4.
