Over the last ten years, nearly every comic book icon has leapt from the four-color page to the silver screen. From Superman to Elektra and from Spider-Man to (ugh) Catwoman, there are few left to make the transition—and the list is about to get smaller.

Hot on the heels of the uber-successful film debut of the armored avenger in “Iron Man,” Marvel Studios revealed their plans to create a Marvel filmiverse centered on the Avengers and announced dates for “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” and “Captain America.”

Perhaps that last true icon of the industry never successfully adapted outside the printed page, Captain America may be one of, if not, the most important character in modern storytelling. 

As more and more hands get involved from other media, directors, screenwriters, producers, studio executives, and the like, the potential for error rises exponentially. 

But there’re a few things Hollywood can do to avoid making “Captain America” the next “Spider-Man 3.”

First, set the movie during World War II. Not just the beginning, not a series a flashbacks—the whole thing. Cap wasn’t born in a laboratory when Steve Rogers was injected with the super-soldier serum; he was forged on beaches of Normandy and the battle-torn landscapes of France. Captain America represents the American Dream, the American ideals of freedom and independence, and the best way to show this is to contrast him against the evil he was created to fight.

Stick to his traditional origin. It’s already perfect for cinema. Many moviemakers have readjusted origin stories to make them more seem epic by force-feeding action into them. 

Next, find a young actor who looks like a soldier. Most people forget Captain America was only in his early 20s during the bloodiest days of WWII, just like most soldiers during that time. Even though his brothers-in-arms looked up to him, Cap always saw himself as one of the troops. There needs to be commonality among the men and Cap, and casting someone older like Thomas Jane or Mark Valley, makes it seem like Cap has been fighting for years, and that hurts the concept. Everything about that war was new, it’s “hero” shouldn’t feel like a veteran, he should be “one of the boys,” an inspiration of his generation.

Though many people may argue this next point, it should be said that it’s OK to use the Ultimate Marvel Universe as a major source of material and inspiration. The Ultimate U. was designed to keep in line with the spirit of Marvel’s longest-running and most beloved properties, but reintroduce them in today’s world for modern audiences…kind of like what the successful film adaptations have done, i.e. “Spider-Man,” “Iron Man,” and “Batman Begins.” 

Also, go ahead and hire Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch as consultants to work with the writers and producers and director. Having already reinvented Captain America and Avengers in the wildly successful series “The Ultimates,” these men understand what it takes to make these classic characters resonate with today’s audiences. Or if for no other reason than to make sure there’re at least a couple people who know what they’re doing on set.

And just a quick note: no evil twins or evil super-soldiers as the villain, like last summer. Iron Man fought Iron Monger. Hulk fought the Abomination. Though both were great films, there’s a bit of a pattern beginning there and it’s getting predictable and boring.

Yet, something should be said that Marvel is in charge of this project and did (mostly) right by Iron Man and Hulk.

Let’s hope that in the future the same can be said about the Star-Spangled Avenger.

Follow Frank DeAngelo on Twitter at @modernheart.