Daredevil’s Hidden Gem: The Mind-Blowing Movie You Forgot About!

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Right now, as “Daredevil: Born Again” is streaming on Disney+, it’s an ideal moment to reminisce about the Man Without Fear’s initial live-action appearance. I’m not referring to Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, but rather something that predates that. We’re talking about the 1989 made-for-TV movie, “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk.” This was actually the first live-action portrayal of Matt Murdock and his vigilante persona. “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk” served a dual purpose: it aimed to revive the Incredible Hulk television series that aired from 1978-1982, and it was also a trial run for a potential Daredevil spinoff. Despite not achieving success in these areas, “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk” didn’t falter for the reasons one might suspect.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I must confess that The Trial of the Incredible Hulk might not measure up against contemporary Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions. However, when you consider it in the context of late ’80s live-action superhero films, it’s actually quite commendable. Nestled between Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) and Batman (1989), which was released a month later, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk found itself in an era where live-action superheroes were far from the box office juggernauts they are today. Despite this, Daredevil’s debut managed to surprise as a ratings hit – not a smash hit that would kickstart the character’s ongoing adventures, but a solid first appearance nonetheless.

The film opens as David Banner, portrayed by Bill Bixby, moves to the city seeking solitude amidst urban chaos. Incidentally, Banner transforms into the Hulk when two thugs hired by Wilson Fisk (playing a smaller role here by John Rhys-Davies) harass a woman on the subway, leading him to act in defense.

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In a swift showdown, The Hulk overpowers two tough guys, but once he transforms back into Bruce Banner, he’s apprehended. As his trial looms, none other than Matt Murdock (played by Rex Smith), a sightless lawyer with a secret vigilante identity, pays him a visit. Eventually, they discover each other’s hidden personas and decide to collaborate, aiming to dismantle Fisk – alias the Kingpin – and his criminal organization for good.

Although the film’s title suggests that the Hulk plays a significant role, it’s actually Daredevil who takes center stage, with ample screen time compared to the Green Giant. The fight sequences, while not as polished or high-budget as one might expect, still deliver an enjoyable experience – albeit not quite reaching the standard set by the iconic hallway fight from the first season of Netflix’s Daredevil series. Daredevil’s skills are faithfully portrayed, and he is equipped with his trademark billy club.

The hero’s red suit is conspicuously absent in “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk.” Instead, Matt Murdock, much like in the first season of Daredevil and Frank Miller’s 1993 Daredevil: Man Without Fear mini-series, is seen wearing a plain black costume. It remains uncertain whether Murdock would have received a suit resembling his comic counterpart if a Daredevil spinoff series had been made, or if he would continue to wear the black attire as an effort to appear less like a comic book character.

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You may be curious as to why, despite positive reviews, the series Trial of the Incredible Hulk didn’t result in a standalone Daredevil show. The primary reason is that, during that period, live-action Marvel productions weren’t particularly well-received by audiences… yet.

Pre-MCU Marvel Was Hit and Miss (Mostly Miss)

Prior to the release of “Spider-Man” in 2002, Marvel had limited success with live-action productions. Their television shows, such as “Doctor Strange” and “Captain America”, were not particularly impressive, and their only theatrical attempt, “Howard the Duck”, was a notable failure that likely played a role in the scarcity of Marvel films for over a decade. The Incredible Hulk series, featuring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, was one of Marvel’s few live-action successes, leading to multiple attempts to reboot it.

Previously, Marvel aimed to make Thor their next successful TV show, but this was a year before they attempted the same with Daredevil. For the first time on television, an almost unrecognizable version of Thor made an appearance in the show The Incredible Hulk Returns. Despite viewers tuning in, it wasn’t sufficient to warrant giving Thor his own series or even a second chance for the Hulk.

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After the success of The Incredible Hulk Returns, another standalone television film was produced – The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. The following year, there was an attempt to resurrect The Incredible Hulk again with The Death of the Incredible Hulk, but Marvel’s choice of title proved unfortunate as the movie marked the end – or at least the TV version – of The Incredible Hulk.

While a live-action ’90s Daredevil series might have been exciting, it’s likely beneficial that it never came to fruition. For instance, it’s questionable whether a mainstream TV network would permit the series to be as gritty as the comics. At that point, HBO could have been the only platform where an authentic Daredevil would thrive. Primetime television was still quite conservative for the adventures of The Man Without Fear.

One reason we’re thankful the ’90s Daredevil series didn’t take flight: it’s hard to predict how it might have influenced the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) we enjoy today. An early ’90s live-action Marvel show may seem unrelated to a cinematic universe established 20 years later, but in truth, even minor alterations could have set off a chain reaction leading to a different MCU or perhaps no MCU at all.

Plus, we may never have gotten those Netflix Daredevil hallway fights.

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2025-04-02 02:10