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Original Hulk Ferrigno talks TV-inspired movie
Editor's Note: CNN Access is a regular feature on CNN.com providing interviews with newsmakers from around the world.
(CNN) -- He appears in Hollywood's current blockbuster "The Hulk" playing a security guard. But to many fans, he is the original muscle-bound, bulging green man known as the Hulk. Lou Ferrigno busted through his seams and onto the scene in 1977 in the television series "The Incredible Hulk" playing the not-so-jolly green giant. CNN Anchor Kyra Phillips spoke to Ferrigno on Friday about the TV-inspired film. KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Lou Ferrigno is live from Los Angeles and LIVE FROM got him. Lou, great to see you. LOU FERRIGNO, ACTOR: You, too. PHILLIPS: Well, tell us, what did you think of the movie? FERRIGNO: I saw "The Hulk" premiere Tuesday night. Fantastic. It's action-packed. We've got the best director, a phenomenal cast and the best special effects. PHILLIPS: Here we have a computer-generated Hulk, and not the human being. I mean, we all identified with you, and you could sign autographs, and you could make visits. What do you think about the technology versus the real person? FERRIGNO: The real person is more human. The computer-generated Hulk is basically more toward the comic book version. So now you have more of the comic book version than in the live-action [TV show] "Hulk," which is being re-released on the DVD. PHILLIPS: When you saw this, were you kind of thinking, gosh, I wish I could sort of do that again. FERRIGNO: Well, I'd love to reprise the role of the Hulk, but apparently Universal decided to go with the special effect, computer generated. PHILLIPS: We don't know why, Lou. We're ready to start a campaign to bring you back. What do you say?
FERRIGNO: I agree. Beginning of the campaign, I have my book here. It's on louferrigno.com July 1. "My Incredible Life as the Hulk" [includes] everything you want to know about the Hulk, about the movie, about Ang Lee and Stan Lee, and all of it is action-packed. So this is one of my new projects. I'm doing the "King of Queens." I have a recurring role ... I play the neighbor next door. PHILLIPS: You also had a cameo in this movie, right? FERRIGNO: Yes, I have a cameo with Stan Lee. PHILLIPS: Aren't you a security guard? FERRIGNO: Yes, I filmed a couple of scenes. I play the head of security. I'm leaving the building with Stan Lee. They worked me in the film. PHILLIPS: I always wanted to know this question or the answer to this question. Who is your favorite superhero? FERRIGNO: Believe it or not, it was really Superman and the Hulk. PHILLIPS: Really? FERRIGNO: I was an avid "The Hulk" comic book reader when I was young. I was basically the Hulk my whole life ... and I expressed all my innovation to the character, I loved playing the Hulk. PHILLIPS: What do your kids think of the Hulk? FERRIGNO: They love it. They're my biggest fans. But they know that, you know, their father is the Hulk, and they tried [emulating] me, working out, getting fit and staying in great shape. Staying Hulked, bulked and buffedPHILLIPS: Well, you know what, you bring up a very good point about staying in great shape. We started doing a little research on you. We all remember you, of course, from the series very well. And we came across this Web site. And I must say, look at you! Oh, my goodness! FERRIGNO: That was only six years ago when I retired from competition again in 1995. PHILLIPS: Wow! How often do you work out? FERRIGNO: I train now five or six days a week to keep in shape. I've been a personal trainer for 25 years. I have a facility in California, and I see people from all walks of life. PHILLIPS: Will you come out here and train me and my producer? FERRIGNO: Definitely. PHILLIPS: Because if I can look like this, wow! These pictures are unbelievable. Aren't you ever shy? FERRIGNO: No. Not now, but maybe about 40 pounds lighter compared to the pictures. I'm 270, I'm still in my best shape. PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. All right, well, what's next for you? You've obviously got this book out, you've got this active Web site. FERRIGNO: And I'm looking at different scripts now and deciding what I'm going to do next. PHILLIPS: Can you give us maybe a hint in what could be next? FERRIGNO: I don't know entirely yet, but basically it has to do with comedy, because I love doing sitcoms, and I'd love to do a romantic comedy, especially [a] sitcom, because doing "The King of Queens" [is] something I'd like to branch out. She-Hulk, you Hulk, we all Hulk
PHILLIPS: Not bad. Speaking of romantic comedy, here's a little more research that we did. We had no idea there was a She-Hulk. Did you know that? FERRIGNO: No. They were going to do a "She-Hulk" years ago, but apparently it never surfaced. PHILLIPS: All right, Lou, we got this picture now, OK? It's "The Savage She-Hulk." And she is just this gorgeous babe, she looks like you but a female. So we were wondering if you maybe had something going on that we didn't know about? FERRIGNO: Not with She-Hulk, but apparently they will probably introduce it in the next two Hulk movies. PHILLIPS: All right. Well, Lou, we sure appreciate you being us. we have to ask you one more question, though. Can you give us a roar? Can you just take us back? FERRIGNO: Hulk smash, Hulk crash. I've done the voice for the Hulk for the animated cartoon. PHILLIPS: All right. Lou Ferrigno. What a pleasure. Great to see you. You're looking just fantastic. FERRIGNO: Thank you.
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