Original Hulk Ferrigno Throws Shade on MCU CGI
“Hulk Smash” is a phrase often uttered by the raging giant green Avenger, both in today’s versions of the MCU and in the movies of the 1970s and 1980s. However, there is one major difference between the Hulk of today and a few decades ago. Former bodybuilder and original Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno didn’t have the help of computer-generated images to make that incredible transformation.
Ferrigno took to Twitter on Friday to remind the current stars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe of this detail.
Can’t think of another superhero that isn’t in costume or CGI.
Worked damn hard on my diet and exercise for the Hulk. Wasn’t going to let anyone down. The hulk was my hero as a kid as well 👍🏽#hulkseries #oghulk #nocgiinvolved #dietandexercise #louferrigno #dontmakemeangry pic.twitter.com/ulh3dbx2Qc
— Lou Ferrigno (@LouFerrigno) June 19, 2021
Ferrigno played the Hulk in “The Incredible Hulk,” a popular television show in the 1970s and 1980s. Though he did need green paint, he did not use any kind of CGI or costume to enhance his physique. Due to the enormous transformation, Ferrigno did not actually play Bruce Banner. Instead, actor Bill Bixby portrayed the medical scientist with an expertise in gamma radiation.
As of tonight, Ferrigno’s Twitter post has over 7,500 likes with many fans commenting about how Bixby and Ferrigno still remain their favorite Hulk. Others took to the social media channel to agree that, though impressive what Ferrigno pulled off, it was not fair to discount the work of today’s Avengers actors, including Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth.
The former Mr. American and IFBB Mr. Universe is the only actor to play the gargantuan hothead without any type of costuming or computer assistance. Now, Ferrigno’s voice is used in collaboration with others to form the speech of the MCU’s current Hulk.
The fact that Ferrigno’s speech now takes center stage in the MCU is profound. Ferrigno lost 80% of his hearing as a child due to an infection. Later, he developed a speech impediment because of the challenge. After being bullied, Ferrigno turned to comic books like “The Inredible Hulk” and “Spider-Man” for inspiration.
“I was obsessed with power,” he said in an interview with People magazine. “I wanted to be strong enough so that I could be able to defend myself.”
Clearly, Ferrigno certainly acheived that goal, portraying one of the strongers Avengers in the galaxy.
Feature Image Credit: Syfy and CBS