Writing a screenplay might be very challenging for most screenwriters, especially when they are desperate to have that story that will gain that pitch and make it to the screenplay.
Well, if you are one of such screenwriters, this article is just for you because in it I will reveal to you how to go for a super hero screenplay.
I know you’ve watched one super hero movie or another and if you do, think about how you’ve wished to possess such super natural ability or power that super hero has.
The most important point about writing a super hero screenplay is to ensure your script is different from all other super hero movies we have out there, and at the same time be able to establish that you understand all the core elements that must always work and appear in such films.
Below are great tips that will help you to write a super hero screenplay.
How To Write A Super Hero Screenplay.
To write a super hero screenplay, you must put all the points listed and explained below into consideration:
- Give your super hero special abilities or powers.
- Show how your super hero had that special abilities or powers.
- Establish when your super hero discover he has that powers.
- Show the geographical location of your super hero.
- Your super hero must have a character flaw and character arc.
- Give your super hero an obstacle to overcome.
1. Give your super hero special abilities or powers.
To write a super hero screenplay, you must ensure your super hero has special abilities or powers that transcends the normal human being.
A perfect example is the screenplay “Spiderman” written by David Koepp where we see how the spider man has the abilities and powers of superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina, durability, coordination, and balance; clinging to surfaces and ceilings like a spider; and detecting danger with his precognition ability called “spider-sense”.
In other words if your super hero is not able to do what the normal human being can do, then your screenplay can never be categorized as a super hero screenplay.
2. Show how your super hero had that special abilities or powers.
The second step to writing a super hero story is to reveal how your super her had his special ability or power.
Did he inherit it from birth or was it an encounter with a deity or spirit being that endowered him with such ability or power?
3. Establish when your super hero discovers he has that special ability or power.
The third step to write a super hero screenplay is to establish when your super hero discovers he has that special ability or power.
My advise on this point is to make the discovery later on in the movie, that is to say, your super hero must not realize from the start that he has any special ability or power. And the best way to make this revelation is to create another character (possibly a super natural one) who is going to reveal to your super hero the special ability or power that he has.
It’ll do your super hero screenplay much good if you can bring this revelation in the resolution.
4. Show the geographical location of your super hero.
Where your super hero’s story is happening is very important, thus you need to create a geographical location for your super hero screenplay.
You can even go as far as mixing more worlds where your super hero makes a transition or resides. Mixing an imaginary and a real world is the best for this kind of screenplay.
While alone, your super hero can exist in his own world and transits to another world when it’s time for him to carry out his mission or pursue his goal.
5. Your super hero must have a character flaw and character arc.
Even though your super hero has special abilities or powers, you also need to create a weakness that most times seems to rob him of this abilities or powers, above all else, you also need to create how he is able to overcome this weakness and wear on a different character later on in the movie.
This weakness is what we refer to as flaw while the transformation of the character is known as character arc.
6. Give your super hero an obstacle to overcome.
The fact that your super hero has special abilities or powers must not make him accomplish goals that easy, there needs to be something or someone that stands in his way at all times, and that is what will make him to always put his special abilities or powers to play.
Letting him fail several times, even after putting his special abilities or powers to use is what will help him to develop those abilities or powers to a certain or highest level.
You can also create another super hero as the one trying to obstruct your super hero at all times. That in essence will help you to write a screenplay about two super heroes. One as a protagonist and the other as an antagonist.
