The Return of the Incredible Hulk (1977)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Banner looks for a cure while helping a young girl in danger. This 1977 Marvel film was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. It runs 1h 35m.
| Release date | November 27, 1977 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 1h 35m |
| IMDb rating | 6.9/10 |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
The second pilot film before the weekly series began.
About The Return of the Incredible Hulk
The Return of the Incredible Hulk is the second TV movie in the Bill Bixby–Lou Ferrigno Hulk series. Banner is still on the run, believed dead, and calling himself David Benton. He gets caught up in a plot against Julie Griffith, a young woman who uses a wheelchair since the fire that killed her father. Her stepmother and her doctor are after the family fortune, and the only person who knows the truth is a hermit who once saved her.
It aired on CBS on November 28, 1977, less than a month after the first pilot. Kenneth Johnson, the show's creator, wrote it, and Alan J. Levi directed. Bixby plays David Banner, Ferrigno plays the Hulk and Jack Colvin returns as tabloid reporter Jack McGee. The guest cast includes Laurie Prange as Julie, Dorothy Tristan as her stepmother, William Daniels as the doctor, John McLiam as the hermit and Gerald McRaney. Like the first movie it ran two hours, and in syndication it was split into two parts titled "A Death in the Family."
Good to know
- It was the second of two pilot movies before CBS launched the weekly series in 1978.
- It was also shown abroad as a feature film.
- Johnson modeled Jack McGee's pursuit of Banner on Javert chasing Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.
- The Hulk doesn't speak in this movie or anywhere else in the show.
How to watch it
Watch the first 1977 pilot, The Incredible Hulk, first. This movie picks up right after it and sets the pattern the series follows: Banner drifts into a new town, helps someone in trouble, and moves on before McGee catches up. After this, go on to the weekly series, which ran five seasons. It's a good choice for fans of '70s TV drama, and of Bixby's quiet, sad take on Banner.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
The Return of the Incredible Hulk FAQ
Is The Return of the Incredible Hulk a sequel to the 1977 pilot?
Yes. It aired a few weeks after the first TV movie and continues Banner's story directly, leading into the weekly series.
What is "A Death in the Family" in The Incredible Hulk?
It's the syndication title for The Return of the Incredible Hulk, which was split into two episodes for reruns.
Who plays the Hulk in The Return of the Incredible Hulk?
Lou Ferrigno plays the Hulk and Bill Bixby plays David Banner.
Can you skip The Return of the Incredible Hulk?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
When was The Return of the Incredible Hulk released?
The Return of the Incredible Hulk was released on November 27, 1977.
Is The Return of the Incredible Hulk part of the MCU?
No. The Return of the Incredible Hulk is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does The Return of the Incredible Hulk have a post-credit scene?
No, The Return of the Incredible Hulk has no post-credit scene.