Lou Ferrigno Defeats Arnold Schwarzenegger

When it comes to the world of bodybuilding, Lou Ferrigno is often viewed as playing second fiddle to Arnold Schwarzenegger, largely due to their iconic rivalry depicted in the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. Arnold’s seven Mr. Olympia wins compared to Lou’s zero, combined with Arnold’s meteoric rise to Hollywood superstardom, seemed to cement his legacy as the dominant figure of that era.

But here’s something many people don’t know—Lou Ferrigno actually beat Arnold at something major in the late 1970s. It wasn’t on the bodybuilding stage or in a gym, but in Hollywood.

Shortly after Lou moved from New York to Southern California, he attended a casting call for a groundbreaking television series—The Incredible Hulk. This was no ordinary casting call either. It was a cattle call, and one of the many hopefuls vying for the role of the Hulk was none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself.

Here’s where the story takes a surprising twist. Lou beat Arnold for the role of the Hulk. It’s often said that Lou’s towering height—several inches taller than Arnold—was a key factor in his casting. Producers were looking for someone who could physically embody the Hulk’s larger-than-life presence, and Lou fit the bill perfectly.

But think about what might have been. If Arnold had landed the role of the Hulk, his acting career might have taken a very different path. Playing the Hulk was demanding. It required long hours in heavy green makeup, portraying a wordless, primal character. It’s possible that Arnold could have become synonymous with the Hulk, known more for his physicality than his charisma or acting chops.

And what about Lou? If Arnold had become the Hulk, Lou Ferrigno’s career might have taken a different trajectory too. Who knows—Lou might have ended up in a completely different production when The Terminator came along in the early 1980s. Imagine an alternate history where Lou Ferrigno, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, was cast as the T-800.

Picture it: Lou Ferrigno’s imposing physique and deep, unmistakable voice delivering the now-iconic line, “I’ll be back.” No thick Austrian accent—just Lou’s unique, deliberate enunciation that only he can deliver. It’s fascinating to think about how different the Terminator franchise could have been.

And what about Arnold? Without The Terminator, would he have become the global superstar we know today? Or would his legacy have been tied to The Incredible Hulk—a green-skinned behemoth in a TV series instead of the ultimate killing machine sent back in time by Skynet?

Of course, history didn’t unfold that way. Lou Ferrigno became the Hulk, a role that made him a household name and solidified his place in pop culture. Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger found his own iconic path, delivering unforgettable performances in The Terminator and countless other blockbusters.

Still, it’s fun to imagine how that one casting decision could have rewritten Hollywood history. Instead of Lou Ferrigno smashing things in green body paint and Arnold growling, “I’ll be back,” we could have had Arnold painted green and Lou as the relentless cyborg assassin.

It’s a testament to how careers—and destinies—can pivot on the smallest moments. Lou Ferrigno may not have won the Mr. Olympia title, but he holds a victory that even Arnold couldn’t claim.

About Yegor Khzokhlachev 837 Articles
Gorilla at Large

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