12 Surprising Facts About the 1978 Hulk TV Show
Before superheroes ruled Hollywood, The Incredible Hulk was smashing records on TV. This one angry, green giant took over entertainment, but the 1978 series packed more surprises than Lou Ferrigno’s green muscles.
Here are some amazing facts from the show that first made Marvel a live-action hit.
She-Hulk Was a Last-Minute Save
Credit: IMDb
CBS almost made their own lady Hulk, so Stan Lee rushed She-Hulk into Marvel comics to lock down the rights. She never showed up on the show, but Jennifer Walters made her way into comics first, dodging a major copyright mess.
Hulk Was Marvel’s First Big-Screen Star
Credit: IMDb
The original Hulk pilot aired as a theatrical movie in Europe. Before Iron Man or Spider-Man ever suited up, Hulk was already flexing in theaters – at least across the Atlantic. It became Marvel’s first live-action hero movie.
Why It’s David, Not Bruce Banner
Credit: IMDb
Bruce Banner became David Banner on TV because the producer thought “Bruce” sounded too soft. This confused fans everywhere. Kenneth Johnson also liked the name “David,”—and, fun fact, it’s also his son’s name. Either way, poor Bruce didn’t even get a say!
Bill Bixby Was Already TV Royalty
Credit: Reddit
Before battling his inner monster, Bill Bixby was known for My Favorite Martian and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. His quiet, emotional performance kept the Hulk story from feeling like a cheesy monster mash.
Lou Ferrigno Was Hulk-Sized Already
Credit: Facebook
Lou Ferrigno didn’t need CGI for special effects. As a real-life bodybuilding champ and rival to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou brought pure muscle and serious heart to the green machine role he had to play. Later, he even voiced Hulk in a few Marvel movies decades later.
Hulk’s Makeup Was Once Way Scarier
Credit: Reddit
Early Hulk episodes made Ferrigno look more like a creature than a man with heavy prosthetics. It spooked more than it wowed, so producers switched to a simpler look: green skin, contact lenses, and a wig made from dyed yak hair.
Hulk’s Secret Sandals
Credit: Reddit
Lou Ferrigno didn’t actually run barefoot. He wore thin, green sandals to protect his feet during action scenes. If you squint hard enough at some shots, you can even spot these Hulk “slippers” in action.
Two Pilots, One Hulk
Credit: IMDb
CBS tested the waters not once but twice before committing to a full Hulk series. After two TV movies proved popular, The Incredible Hulk officially smashed onto screens in 1978 and ran for five strong seasons.
Hulk Had a Superhero Company
Credit: IMDb
For a brief moment, CBS was the superhero network. Alongside Hulk, they aired Wonder Woman and The Amazing Spider-Man. It wasn’t exactly the MCU, but it was a superhero party!
Hulk and Spider-Man Almost Crossed Paths
Credit: IMDb
Plans were floated to team Bill Bixby’s Hulk with Nicholas Hammond’s Spider-Man in a TV movie. Sadly, it never happened—but imagine the slowest, most dramatic crossover chase scene of all time.
TV Hulk Was Seriously Power-Scaled
Credit: IMDb
Comic-book Hulk could toss tanks and punch through mountains. TV Hulk? He mostly bent metal bars and flipped small cars. Budget and realism meant the green guy stayed a little closer to ground level—and he never said a word.
Hulk Almost Looked Red
Credit: Reddit
Kenneth Johnson thought red better symbolized rage and wanted a red Hulk instead of green, but fans said no way. Tradition won out, but the idea wasn’t forgotten. Years later, comics introduced an actual Red Hulk villain.
The Producer Didn’t Love Comics
Credit: Reddit
Kenneth Johnson didn’t even like comics. But he loved sci-fi and drama, which is why Hulk’s TV adventures felt more like emotional thrillers than Saturday morning cartoons. He later created the hit alien-invasion series V for NBC.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Had Cameos
Credit: IMDb
Marvel legends, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Hulk’s co-creators, both popped up in the TV universe. Kirby appeared during the series, while Lee waited until the late-’80s Hulk TV movies to make his charming cameo.
Hulk’s TV Movies Built a Proto-MCU
Credit: Reddit
Before the Avengers assembled, Hulk’s ’80s TV movies introduced Thor, Daredevil, and Kingpin. It wasn’t a universe yet, but it showed that Marvel’s heroes could share the screen. It wasn’t the Avengers yet, but it was the first step.