Why King of the Hill Isn’t Recasting Luanne and Lucky in Its Revival

King of the Hill is officially returning with a new season premiering August 4 on Hulu, and longtime fans have been eager to see how the show would handle the absence of two beloved characters: Luanne Platter and Lucky Kleinschmidt. Both characters played important roles in the later seasons of the original series, and their absence in the revival raised questions about whether they would be recast or written out.

Showrunner Saladin K Patterson addressed this directly in a recent interview, explaining that the creative team chose not to recast Luanne, voiced by the late Brittany Murphy, and Lucky, voiced by the late Tom Petty. Instead, the team decided to retire the characters as a sign of respect for the actors who brought them to life. Patterson compared the decision to retiring a sports jersey, a tribute to their legacy rather than trying to replace them.

This approach avoids what could have felt like a hollow imitation. Luanne’s absence, in particular, has long been a sensitive topic. Even before the original series ended in 2010, her character had been written around due to Murphy’s rising film career and limited availability. The revival gives the team the chance to finally give both Luanne and Lucky a graceful exit that respects their impact on the series.

While details about their fate in the new series are being kept under wraps, fans can expect subtle nods to the couple throughout the season. Whether it is a quiet reference to where they are now or a mention of their daughter, the creative team has hinted that their presence will still be felt in meaningful ways.

The revival picks up with a nearly ten year time jump, giving the writers flexibility to show how the characters in Arlen, Texas have grown and changed. And while Luanne and Lucky will not be in the new episodes, their stories are far from forgotten. Their legacy lives on not just in the hearts of fans, but in the fabric of King of the Hill itself.

Season 14 of King of the Hill premieres August 4 on Hulu with all ten episodes dropping at once.