The Incredible Hulk Returns
The Incredible Hulk Returns is a 1988 American television superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk and serves as a continuation of the 1978–1982 television series The Incredible Hulk.
The Incredible Hulk Returns
- Nicholas Corea
- Lance Rubin
- "The Lonely Man Theme" by Joe Harnell
United States
English
- Bill Bixby
- Nicholas Corea
Daniel McPhee
30708 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California
Spelling Television Inc. - 5700 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
Courtyard Pl, Los Angeles, California
Tiffany Court - 616 S Masselin Ave, Los Angeles, California
Palomino Nightclub - 6907 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Chuck Colwell
- Janet Ashikaga
- Briana London
100 minutes
- Bixby-Brandon Productions
- New World Television
- Marvel Comics
May 22, 1988
In The Incredible Hulk Returns, Dr. David Banner, a scientist who transforms into a green-skinned superhuman monster when enraged, believes that he has found a potential cure for his condition, but he is delayed by the inexplicable arrival of the arrogant Viking warrior Thor.[1] Bill Bixby returns as Banner and Lou Ferrigno reprises his role of the Hulk. Eric Kramer makes his first and only appearance as Thor and Steve Levitt stars as Donald Blake. This was also Jack Colvin's last appearance as Jack McGee.[2][3]
Production[edit]
Unlike the preceding series which was produced by MCA/Universal, this film and the following two sequels were produced by New World Television (New World was Marvel's owner at the time) and Bill Bixby's production outfit, which, in association with NBC, took over the Hulk television franchise from former broadcaster CBS.
Bill Bixby recruited Nicholas Corea, who wrote and/or directed many episodes of the Incredible Hulk TV series, to write and direct The Incredible Hulk Returns. Stan Lee was a consultant on the film. Kenneth Johnson, the creator/executive producer (and sometimes writer/director) of the TV series, was not invited to contribute to the film.[4]
This television film acted as a backdoor pilot for an unproduced television series featuring Thor, another Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name. Much like the television treatment of the Hulk, Thor's backstory has been altered from his original comic book appearance: while in the comics Donald Blake and Thor shared the same body and could transform by use of an enchanted cane, Thor is here depicted as being a servant of Blake and they are two separate entities. In The Incredible Hulk Returns, Thor is neither Asgardian nor a god (though he does once claim to be the "son of Odin"), and is instead described as a long-dead Viking king who was denied access to Valhalla for the sin of arrogance, for which he must perform a number of heroic acts, similar to the trials of Heracles. Additionally Thor's powers are heavily limited; while he has superhuman strength, he cannot fly or control the weather and his hammer is not restricted by the "worthiness enchantment" from the comics. The hammer itself, not named Mjölnir, is used to summon Thor into the mortal world, by which Blake must say Odin's name.
The film was filmed between November 1987 and January 1988 in Los Angeles.
This film is the first time another character from the Marvel Universe or any genuinely supernatural or otherworldly elements appeared in the universe of the Incredible Hulk TV series.[5] Thor and the Hulk next appeared on-screen together in 2012's The Avengers, played by Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo respectively.
On May 21, 1988, just one day before the film aired, Ferrigno appeared as a contestant on the game show Family Double Dare to promote it.
Home media[edit]
This television film was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment on May 13, 2008 along with The Trial of the Incredible Hulk as a DVD double feature to coincide with the release of The Incredible Hulk. They were re-released by Image Entertainment on October 11, 2011.