While superheroes usually have their alter egos, the Hulk remains a unique figure because Bruce Banner doesn’t want to be the Hulk. Other superheroes may rush into their costumes (or reluctantly take on a mantle), but Bruce fears his outsized persona: a fountain of uncontrollable rage that can help and harm in equal measure. This resistance makes for an interesting array of performances, as various actors who have taken on the role of Bruce and/or Hulk wrestle with making the character more than a timid scientist who transforms into a giant, green rage monster.
Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner on “The Incredible Hulk” (1977–1982)
Weirdly named “David Banner” instead of Bruce, the first adaptation of the character on CBS’ TV series “The Incredible Hulk” was still incredibly charming, thanks to Bixby. Although audiences would always await his transformation (more on that below), it was Bixby who had arguably the less glamorous and more necessary role of keeping viewers tuned in and invested in the story of the week. Today, such dramatic turns in superhero roles are normal, but consider the charming silliness of the 1960s “Batman” and you can see that Bixby, who brought a level of pathos to the character, was charting a new course for what superhero alter egos could be.
Lou Ferrigno as Hulk on “The Incredible Hulk” (1977–1982)
There were clear limits of what a TV show could do when requiring a supernatural figure in the 1970s (and even today, an episode of the Disney+ She-Hulk TV series reportedly cost $25 million to make). Bixby’s Dr. Banner transforms into a much bigger man, painted green, but Ferrigno didn’t become instantly beloved as Hulk merely by virtue of his size. While not necessarily getting the same dramatic material as Bixby, it’s Ferrigno who endures in the popular imagination for essentially originating the live-action Hulk—and he is likely the only one who will ever have to do it through his sheer performance alone without the aid of CGI. When it’s his voice we hear as Hulk in the 2003 film adaptation, that’s not an Easter egg: It’s a loving homage.
Eric Bana in “Hulk” (2003)
Bana was riding high in the 2000s thanks to his outstanding performances in films like “Chopper” and “Black Hawk Down.” As superhero cinema started to surge following the success of “X-Men” and “Spider-Man,” Bana had the difficult task of not only taking on Bruce Banner but also working within Ang Lee’s unique framework for a superhero tale. While later iterations were more narratively traditional, Bana was thrown into a psychological drama that happens to feature a massive green guy. And yet Bana plays the role perfectly, giving an understated humanity to a man suffering through his transformation. He’s also the only big-screen Bruce who gets to play the character at the outset of becoming Hulk—leaning into the shock and uncertainty of the disorder—whereas later stories are well past Bruce’s gamma-ray accident.
Edward Norton in “The Incredible Hulk” (2008)
Has Bruce Banner ever been this intense? While Zak Penn’s script does its best to give Norton some moments of levity (“You wouldn’t like me when I’m…hungry”), there’s always a slight mismatch here despite the actor’s enormous acting ability. The shades of vulnerability and fear that Bruce needs are missing, leading instead to a sweaty desperation. This is a Bruce who has been on the run for a while and checks his heart rate with meticulous precision. But the attempts to restrain the Hulk remove the coloring from the Bruce character, making him someone who’s always attempting to defuse a time bomb that the audience wants to see explode. There’s a fascinating “What if?” to the idea of Norton continuing to play Bruce throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how he might have evolved his performance. Instead, this is more of a curiosity among the Hulk performances.
Mark Ruffalo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2012–present)
Starting with “The Avengers” in 2012, Marvel chose to recast Norton with Ruffalo, and it’s tough to argue this wasn’t a massive upgrade. Part of that comes from the better writing, but Ruffalo also has no problem inhabiting the sad, nerdy aspects of Bruce. A little bit absent-minded professor and a little bit sexy scientist, Ruffalo embraces both the dramatic and comic beats of the character. However, what sets him apart is where others didn’t even have an opportunity: Ruffalo also plays Hulk. The motion-capture technology has fully evolved to capture Ruffalo post-transformation—and the CGI artists even craft the Hulk to look like the actor—so he’s able to take ownership of both sides. His eight film appearances (so far) have also allowed the actor to play the full range of what Hulk can do, from unbridled rage in “The Avengers” to lovable oaf in “Thor: Ragnarok” to Smart Hulk in “Avengers: Endgame.” While other actors brought their unique talents to bear on these stories, only Ruffalo has been given both the time and the technology to let Bruce and Hulk fully exist in tandem. Thankfully, he’s made the most of that gift, and as the years pass, it’s easy to see Ruffalo not only as the Incredible Hulk but the Definitive Hulk.