Hulk and Daredevil’s 1989 Movie: A Cringe-Worthy Blast from the Past!

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In the 1980s, a Marvel live-action film featuring Daredevil and Hulk is rarely remembered, causing many to believe that Ben Affleck was the initial actor to depict the Marvel hero in live-action. However, it was actually Rex Smith who played the role first, appearing alongside Lou Ferrigno, the former Mr. Universe, in “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk”.

Back in the mid-70s, Angela Bowie, then wife of David Bowie, acquired rights for a limited time to create a live-action adaptation featuring the New York superheroes Daredevil and Black Widow. She enlisted photographer Terry O’Neill to capture images of herself as Black Widow and actor Ben Carruthers portraying Daredevil. However, despite her efforts to sell the idea to producers, the project remained unrealized.

Back in 1983, ABC attempted to produce a Daredevil pilot, however, it was never broadcasted. Instead, the character made his first appearance on screen in a 1989 NBC television movie titled “The Incredible Hulk Returns,” which served as a sequel to that series. Plans for a follow-up TV show based on this film also surfaced, but unfortunately, it never materialized.

Matt Murdock Is Eager to Keep Hulk Out of Prison in ‘The Trial of the Incredible Hulk’

In this lively yet imperfect film, legal issues, friendships, and wickedness intertwine. Due to the limited technology available in the 1980s for computer-generated imagery (CGI) and special effects, the characters of David Banner (portrayed by one actor in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk) and Hulk were played by two distinct actors.

At the start, Bill Bixby’s character, who is actually the scientist known as Banner, transforming into the green colossus, Hulk (played by Lou Ferrigno), when he gets angry, enters New York City with a desire to keep a low profile. He adopts the identity of David Belson and manages to stay composed, even when some pesky individuals try to provoke him into conflicts.

In a critical moment, Banner reaches his breaking point when he witnesses a young woman being bullied by thugs who work for the notorious Marvel villain Kingpin (John Rhys-Davies). Enraged, the scientist metamorphoses into the Hulk, following the usual pattern of superheroes in causing destruction while offering aid. Subsequently, Banner is apprehended and falsely accused of assault. Regrettably for him, the woman chooses not to testify, fearing reprisals from Kingpin due to his control over the city’s criminal underworld. This villain flaunts his dominance over the city’s illicit activities, boasting about his business successes while his adversaries meet untimely ends, either through hostile acquisitions or a shower of gunfire.

The outlook for Banner seems grim until the visually impaired lawyer, Matt Murdock (played by Rex Smith), decides to assist him with his case. At first, Banner is reluctant, but as he has no other choice, he consents to be represented by Murdock. As Murdock delves deeper into the investigation, he unearths a broader conspiracy involving Kingpin and almost every crime in the city. However, as he gets more involved in Fisk’s underhanded criminal activities, he starts to ponder his own morality and moral compass, gradually straying from his usual life into dangerous ethical terrain.

In the meantime, Banner finds himself haunted by a terrifying dream where he stands accused in court while transformed as the Hulk. From then on, Murdock takes action against the Kingpin and his thugs, aiming to bring lasting peace to the city.

Daredevil Discards His Comic Costume for Ninja Fashion in ‘The Trial of the Incredible Hulk’

In more contemporary terms, one might find The Trial of the Incredible Hulk less than impressive, even though it may have captivated many children in its time. A glaring issue with this Marvel movie that could potentially annoy viewers today is Daredevil’s costume. This portrayal of Matt Murdock bears little resemblance to his comic book character and dons a black ninja outfit, devoid of eyeholes – a design flaw that makes it easier for villains to spot the blind superhero.

In the ’80s, ninja films were all the rage, and perhaps the director aimed to cash in on this trend, but fast-forward to 2020, and the appeal for movies featuring masked martial artists seems to have waned significantly, making it a struggle for me, as a movie enthusiast, to sit through this superhero flick today. Back then, diehard comic book fans might have watched with a sense of frustration, questioning why it was so challenging to accurately replicate the costumes as they appeared in the comics.

From a movie enthusiast’s perspective, let me say this: The title may lead you to believe it’s a Hulk film, but in reality, it’s all about Daredevil. I was quite surprised to find that the Hulk, who should have been the main character, often feels like a supporting actor in his own movie. David Banner, the human form of the Hulk, transforms into his green alter ego only a handful of times, and even when it does happen, it’s not during the climactic fight scene. Instead, Daredevil takes center stage for the action, which seemed quite unusual given that back then, the Hulk was arguably more popular than Daredevil.

Beyond that point, it’s important to note that there is no actual trial, which leads us to question the truthfulness of the advertising. Fans who attended with the anticipation of a gripping courtroom drama might have had grounds for a lawsuit. In comparison to the numerous courtroom scenes in the Daredevil TV series, the courtroom sequence in Banner’s dream is significantly lacking in quality and depth.

Additionally, there are many logical inconsistencies to consider. It seems odd for Banner, aware that dangerous criminals are on the loose in the city and tasks remain unfinished, would choose to stay imprisoned. Furthermore, it’s hard to imagine him delegating all the heavy responsibilities to Murdock, even physically. Given his strength as Hulk, Banner could have effortlessly broken out of jail, handled Kingpin and his gang, then willingly surrendered himself afterwards.

Moving on, I must say that the transition sequences seem unrealistic, largely due to the fact that Bruce Banner and The Hulk are portrayed by separate actors, necessitating fast changes between them. Despite the film’s emphasis on the platonic bond between Banner and Murdock, it appears that there is greater appeal in other aspects, particularly in the performances of Fisk and his gang.

‘The Trial of the Incredible Hulk’ Proved Marvel Couldn’t Compete (Back Then)

It’s fascinating to observe that Marvel seems to be surpassing DC in the realm of live-action productions, a contrast to the ’80s when the Batman franchise was dominating. The airing of The Trial of the Incredible Hulk merely underscored how much ground Marvel still needed to cover. While some critics attribute its shortcomings to being a product of its era, it’s worth noting that it debuted in the same year as Tim Burton’s Batman, and the difference in quality is quite evident.

During the ’80s, DC solidified its position as the superior brand by releasing a series of successful Superman sequels, including Supergirl and Swamp Thing. On the other hand, Marvel’s offerings were limited to Dolph Lundgren’s Punisher film and a previous Hulk TV movie at the time.

Or,

In the ’80s, DC films such as the Superman sequels, Supergirl, and Swamp Thing, gave them an edge, making them the superior brand compared to Marvel, whose only notable releases were Dolph Lundgren’s Punisher film and a past Hulk TV movie.

Despite its flaws, the Trial of the Incredible Hulk played a crucial role in Marvel’s rise to greatness. It may have been so poorly done that it almost stopped a TV show from happening, but it served as a valuable lesson for future directors, particularly in terms of managing the Hulk character. The Hulk thrives on chaos and destruction. Fortunately, fans were rewarded with such spectacles during the 2000s.

It’s surprising that a story so likely to induce yawns includes a cameo by Stan Lee; however, this was indeed his debut in a live-action film, and he continued to appear in Marvel productions until his passing.

It’s worth noting that Stan Lee wasn’t thrilled about the way he was handled during the filming of the ’80s movie. In the production, he portrays a jury foreman in a brief dream sequence. However, it was said that he was substituted by a stunt double for the scene where the Hulk lifts the jury box at Bill Bixby’s request. This didn’t sit well with Lee, as he wished to leap off the jury box himself, believing there was no real danger since the box was merely a few feet above the ground. In essence, we can understand Bixby’s reluctance to potentially injure the esteemed Stan Lee in this scenario.

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2025-04-13 05:02