| The Incredible Hulk Returns | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Kenneth Johnson |
| Written by | Nicholas Corea |
| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Theme music composer |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Daniel McPhee |
| Cinematography | Chuck Colwell |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | May 22, 1988 (1988-05-22) |
| Related | |
| The Incredible Hulk The Trial of the Incredible Hulk | |
The Incredible Hulk Returns is a 1988 Americantelevisionsuperhero film based on theMarvel Comics character theHulk and serves as a continuation of the 1978–1982 television seriesThe Incredible Hulk. The film premiered onNBC on May 22, 1988.
InThe Incredible Hulk Returns, Dr. David Banner, a scientist who transforms into a green-skinned superhuman monster when enraged, has found a potential cure for his condition, but is delayed by the arrival of the arrogant Viking warriorThor.[1]Bill Bixby returns as Banner andLou Ferrigno reprises his role of the Hulk.Eric Kramer stars as Thor andSteve Levitt stars as Donald Blake. This was alsoJack Colvin's last appearance as Jack McGee.[2][3]
Dr. David Banner has been gainfully employed at the Joshua-Lambert Research Institute (as David Bannion) where he and a team of scientists are putting the final touches on a Gamma Transponder. The Transponder's public purpose is as an energy source, but Banner has secretly incorporated a secondary function which he intends to use to cure the gamma alteration which transforms him into the Hulk. He has not changed into the Hulk for two years, having met a young widow, Maggie Shaw, with whom he is romantically involved; focusing his thoughts on Shaw allows him to fight back transformations. By chance, he is recognized by a former student of his,Donald Blake. Blake reveals that, on an expedition in Norway, he was bound into possession of amagical hammer containing the soul ofThor, an immortal Viking warrior banished fromValhalla and reluctantly compelled to serve Blake, and can summon Thor by speakingOdin's name. Frustrated by Thor's brutish and moralistic character, Blake wants Banner's advice on severing their bond. Thor is summoned and bullies Banner until he turns into the Hulk, who contends with Thor, leaving the lab severely damaged.
In the morning, Banner scolds Blake for setting back his experiment and demands that he make amends. While ordinarily he leaves the area when the Hulk is sighted, Banner is confident enough that the Transponder will cure him to risk staying. He advises Blake to speak to Thor to learn more about their bond.
Journalist Jack McGee hears of sightings of the Hulk and his investigations lead him to suspect that David Bannion is the Hulk's human alter ego. When he investigates Bannion's address, Banner puts him off the scent by having Thor answer the door and identify himself as David Bannion. Thor bonds with Blake at a bar, briefly entertaining the possibility of Thor using his powers to fight crime. A mercenary gang outside the Joshua-Lambert Institute seek to kidnap Banner and the Transponder, but the Hulk effortlessly dispatches them. The mercenary leader Jack LeBeau targets Shaw as a hostage. Mercenaries disguised as police officers ambush and kidnap Shaw despite the combined efforts of the Hulk and Thor. Joshua-Lambert executive Zack Lambert has been working as the mercenaries' inside man as revenge against his overbearing older brother Joshua, but he balks at the kidnapping and is fatally shot.
LeBeau demands the Transponder as the ransom for Shaw. Recognizing its potential as a weapon in the wrong hands, Banner sabotages the Transponder, removing his chance of a cure. Zack contacts Banner from his deathbed and tells him where Shaw is being held. Hulk, Blake, and Thor ambush the gang's hideout and fight them to rescue Shaw. McGee is once again berated by his editor for his obsession with the Hulk and Thor. Blake and Banner agree that Shaw has likely figured out that Banner is the Hulk. Thor and Blake, now at peace with each other, say their goodbyes to Banner. Under threat of McGee finding him if he stays longer, Banner is forced to end his relationship with Shaw and once again leaves to find a cure.
Unlike the preceding series which was produced byMCA/Universal, this film and the following two sequels were produced byNew World Television (New World was Marvel's owner at the time) and Bill Bixby's production outfit, which, in association withNBC, took over theHulk television franchise from former broadcasterCBS.
Bill Bixby recruitedNicholas Corea, who wrote or directed many episodes of theIncredible Hulk TV series, to write and directThe 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] Johnson was at the time contracted to the filmShort Circuit 2 as director and was "surprised" to learn of the project whilst working on location inToronto. In contemporary interviews, Johnson has revealed that he never watched this, or any of the three Hulk TV movies, nor did he ever discuss them with Bixby right up until his death in 1993, with whom Johnson maintained a close friendship.
Lou Ferrigno extensively trained to regain the muscle mass required for him to credibly portray the Hulk, putting on 45 pounds in three months.[5]
This television film acted as abackdoor pilot for anunproduced television series featuring Thor, another Marvel Comics character created byStan Lee andJack Kirby based on theNorse mythological deityof 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 comicsDonald 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. InThe Incredible Hulk Returns, Thor is neitherAsgardian nor a god (though he does once claim to be the "son ofOdin"), and is instead described as a long-dead Viking king who was denied access toValhalla for the sin of arrogance, for which he must perform a number of heroic acts, similar to thetrials of Heracles. Additionally Thor's powers are more limited than his comic book incarnation; while he has superhuman strength and metabolism, he cannot fly or control the weather and hishammer 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 theMarvel Universe or any genuinely supernatural or otherworldly elements appeared in the universe of theIncredible Hulk TV series.[6] Thor and the Hulk next appeared on-screen together in 2012'sThe Avengers.
On May 21, 1988, just one day before the film aired, Ferrigno appeared as a contestant on the game showFamily Double Dare to promote it.
The Incredible Hulk Returns was a major ratings success, outdoing even the high expectations directed to it as a reunion of theIncredible Hulk TV series.[4]
This television film was released byAnchor Bay Entertainment on May 13, 2008 along with its sequel,The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, as a DVD double feature to coincide with the release ofThe Incredible Hulk. They were re-released byImage Entertainment on October 11, 2011.
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