‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Writer Will Beall Penned A ‘Justice League’ Script Inspired By ‘Back To The Future II’
The DCEU, and MCU for that matter, to date used all the tropes of time travel. As a matter of fact, the former did them to death – quite literally in The Flash and the Knightmare reality of the Snyder Cut.
It turns out this might have always been the plan. Going back to 2012, Warner Bros had a Justice League script drafted implementing time travel while they were still figuring out their universe.
Will Beall, the Aquaman writer whose most recent credits include Bad Boys: Ride or Die and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, penned a screenplay that borrowed from one of cinema’s greatest benchmarks for jumping into a time machine.
“The biggest difference with mine, I think, was that much of the second act was that little sort of coda that was on the Snyder Cut, where it’s this post-apocalyptic sort of dream sequence or flash forward, and there’s good guys and bad guys, they’re forced to team up. Much of my second act was taken up with that,” Beall said via TheWrap.
He then added, “My version of it owed a lot to Back to the Future II.” In the sequel, Old Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) briefly steals the DeLorean in 2015 to go back and give his younger self the sports almanac.
A Time Travel Twist On The Justice League
This creates an alternate 1985 where Biff rules Hill Valley with an iron fist like a mobster. He owns the police and also married Marty’s mother (Lea Thompson) after killing his father, George McFly (Crispin Glover).
Like Barry Allen in a Flashpoint scenario, Doc (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty (Michael J. Fox) rushed back to 1955 to undo the damage.
Though Beall’s script didn’t get made, technically, he received a story credit on Zack Snyder’s Justice League. “I’m proud of the script that I wrote and I’m happy that it helped. I feel like I did my job,” he said of his screenplay.
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“So your first job as a writer, working with any of these things is to be a good steward. Right, it’s sort of to ‘do no harm.’ And so you have to respect the fans and you have to respect the characters and what makes them great, and not try to outsmart it,” he added.
The time travel element in Beall’s Justice League script bears a striking resemblance to the alternate timeline created by Biff in Back to the Future II. The film’s iconic time travel scenario serves as a foundation for Beall’s screenplay.
Exploring The ‘Back To The Future II’ Influence
Beall’s script took inspiration from the second act of Back to the Future II, where Biff’s actions in the future alter the present. The post-apocalyptic scenario in Beall’s Justice League script is similar to the alternate 1985 where Biff is in control. This influence is evident in the way Beall’s script utilizes time travel to create a dystopian future scenario.
The script’s reliance on the “Back to the Future II” formula can be seen as both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, it provides a familiar and engaging framework for a superhero movie. On the other hand, it may be a departure from the traditional Justice League narrative.
Beall’s script, however, is not a simple rehashing of “Back to the Future II.” He adds his own unique elements to the story, creating a Justice League story that is both familiar and fresh.
The Importance Of Respecting The Source Material
Beall’s comments about respecting the source material highlight a key aspect of superhero filmmaking. Writers, directors, and producers have a responsibility to the characters and fans. They must create stories that are true to the source material while also being original and exciting.
This is a balancing act that many filmmakers struggle with. However, Beall’s approach to the Justice League script shows that it is possible to create a successful superhero film while honoring the legacy of the characters.
Beall’s Justice League script was a bold attempt to explore the time travel trope in a new way. It was inspired by one of cinema’s most iconic time travel films, but it also added its own unique elements. While the script was not ultimately produced, it serves as a reminder of the creative possibilities of superhero filmmaking.
What inspired Will Beall’s ‘Justice League’ script?
Will Beall’s ‘Justice League’ script was inspired by ‘Back to the Future II’.
How did Beall’s script incorporate time travel?
Beall’s script for ‘Justice League’ included a second act with a post-apocalyptic dream sequence, similar to the Snyder Cut, where good and bad guys team up, resembling a scenario from ‘Back to the Future II’.
Did Will Beall’s ‘Justice League’ script get made into a movie?
No, Will Beall’s ‘Justice League’ script did not get made into a movie, but he received a story credit on Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
What approach did Will Beall take when writing his ‘Justice League’ script?
Will Beall aimed to be a good steward of the characters and story, respecting the fans and not trying to outsmart the essence of the characters in his screenplay.
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