Two Marvel superheroes, Thor and the Hulk, had solo adventures in a TV movie called “The Return of the Incredible Hulk” that aired in 1988.
From 1977 to 1982, The Incredible Hulk aired on CBS, starring Bill Bixby as Dr. David Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his perpetually angry green alter ego, the Hulk. The 82nd episode aired on May 12, 1982. state of emergency, which is also the last one. It provides no conclusion for the series. But the adventure does not end here.
Six years pass and Bill Bixby wants to bring the character back to life. Exit CBS, which has been more interested in superhero series since the end of Spider-Man and the failures of Captain America and Doctor Strange, and hello NBC, which is joining forces with Bixby and Stan Lee becoming a consultant on the project.
David Banner (Bill Bixby)
Bixby recalls Nicholas Correa, who was cast as director of the 12-episode series, which he wrote and directed. The final result is the so-called Return of the Incredible HulkAnd he has to be the pilot to convince Marvel to start a new series on the green giant.
The story begins two years after the end of the series, when Dr. David Banner is in a relationship with a colleague named Maggie Shaw. At the same time, he has just helped build a gamma transponder that he believes will free him from the Hulk. But before he’s about to try the device on himself, a certain Donald Blake shows up, announcing that he’s found an ancient hammer that can summon a Norse warrior from Asgard named… Thor.
Arrival of Thor (Eric Alan Kramer)
Hulk and Thor fight each other to no avail. Meanwhile, a criminal organization tries to get hold of the gamma transponder, kidnapping Maggie despite the Hulk and Thor’s intervention. The criminals then blackmail Banner: if he doesn’t give them the transponder, his lover will be executed.
David Banner deactivates the device so that it can no longer be used as a weapon of destruction, ruining his chances of escaping the Hulk’s persona. A battle begins between Blake, Thor and the Hulk on one side and the mobsters on the other. The latter do not measure up, and their leader is imprisoned, the Hulk tied with a twisted hose. To keep Maggie and live his life, Banner gives up on her and continues to search for a cure.
Hulk and Thor, best friends
Return of the Incredible Hulk is one of American television’s attempts at a Marvel-related universe, predating Marvel Studios’ Iron Man by nearly twenty years. Reuniting Thor and the Hulk for an adventure The Marvel Cinematic Universe will also take part after many years with Thor: Ragnarok.
In this TV movie, we find the spirit of the series with the return of Bixby and Ferrigno, but also the character of investigative journalist Jack McGee, who is already present in the series and tries his best to expose the existence of the Hulk on the big day. First downside for the two new characters as Blake takes little interest and Maggie takes second place as no one wants to explain anything to her.
Steve Levitt (Blake) and Lee Purcell (Maggie)
The action sequences highlight the film, but the fights lack breath and certain moments, such as Thor’s discovery of the nightclub world, are pure filler. Moreover, the Asgardian seems to be only interested in women and beer, and we tell ourselves that this series friend movie which was planned, may have done well not to see the light of day.
Indeed, NBC did not order this telefilm to series. It is followed by two more feature films that are also interesting to discover and which will be the subject of our next article. To be continued !
7 actors rejected by Marvel:
Source: allocine
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
