The Trial of the Incredible Hulk

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk is the 1989 live-action, made-for-TV NBC film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is a direct sequel to The Incredible Hulk Returns and the second movie in the series of Incredible Hulk TV films.

David Banner (Bill Bixby) is now living in a major city, unaware that it is largely controlled by a crime boss named Wilson Fisk (John Rhys-Davies), aka The Kingpin. When Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) roughs up Fisk's men, they inadvertently leave evidence of a recent crime on Banner who is arrested and put on trial. There he is defended by blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Rex Smith), who moonlights as the costumed crime-fighter Daredevil, on a mission to bring Fisk's empire down. The pair ultimately combine their gifts to drive Fisk out of the city once and for all.

The movie also starred Marta DuBois and Nancy Everhard. It is noteworthy for being the first production to include a Stan Lee cameo.

Bixby directed the movie from a script by Gerald Di Pego. It was developed in part to launch a Daredevil TV series. The movie enjoyed high ratings and, in spite of the weak costume, comic fans found Daredevil was a bit more faithful to the source material than Thor had been in the previous movie.

While no further Daredevil projects were created, the movie did lead to a sequel with The Death of the Incredible Hulk.