--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would say the main thing is, don't just…" description: "\"I would say the main thing is, don't just copy yourself, which is what a lot of sequels do. And in some cases, it works. Like James Bond movies. But Ja..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/james-gunn-4477_bond_i-would-say-the-main-thing-is-don-t-just_2668623.jpg" --- # I would say the main thing is, don't just copy yourself… ![“I would say the main thing is, don't just copy yourself, which is what a lot of sequels do. And in some cases, it works. Like James Bond movies. But James Bond is a different type of character.” quote by James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/james-gunn-4477_bond_i-would-say-the-main-thing-is-don-t-just_2668623.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/james-gunn-4477_bond_i-would-say-the-main-thing-is-don-t-just_2668623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/james-gunn-4477_bond_i-would-say-the-main-thing-is-don-t-just_2668623.jpg) > “I would say the main thing is, don't just copy yourself, which is what a lot of sequels do. And in some cases, it works. Like James Bond movies. But James Bond is a different type of character.” [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work should avoid mere imitation; originality keeps stories fresh, even within familiar franchises. **In simple terms:** Avoid copying yourself. Key Takeaway Seek fresh angles. Themes creativity originality storytelling Mood energetic curious Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - writing scripts - directing - franchise planning Key Concepts film theory sequel dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance originality with fan expectations? - What fresh perspective can you bring to a known character? A Different Perspective Some audiences expect familiar formulas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bond/) [Bond movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bond-movie/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [James bond movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-bond-movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Sequels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sequels/) ## Related quotes > [My dream would be to play the villain in a James Bond movie, or opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. 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I watched a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-reed/i-watched-a-lot-of-the-james-bond-movies-certainly-both-the-old-ones/) [Adam Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-reed/) > [Bill Gates is just a monocle and a Persian Cat away from being one of the bad guys in a James Bond movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/bill-gates-is-just-a-monocle-and-a-persian-cat-away-from-being-one-of/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“I’m convinced the reason they don’t make James Bond movies anymore is because the stunts he used to do no longer impress us as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/i-m-convinced-the-reason-they-don-t-make-james-bond-movies-anymore-is/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [“Live Another Sol would be an awesome name for a James Bond movie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/live-another-sol-would-be-an-awesome-name-for-a-james-bond-movie/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [I think James Bond is a spy. He's not superhuman. Calling him a superhero is like calling James Bond movies "comic-book movies."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/i-think-james-bond-is-a-spy-he-s-not-superhuman-calling-him-a/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [Every time I see 007 get a gadget in an old James Bond movie I'm like, My smart phone has that app.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/every-time-i-see-007-get-a-gadget-in-an-old-james-bond-movie-i-m-like/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [In the last James Bond movie, the villain was a culture captain, a tycoon of culture, a Murdoch figure. It's not as if people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/in-the-last-james-bond-movie-the-villain-was-a-culture-captain-a/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [You do not interrupt a man when he is explaining his master plan after having been soundly defeated. Don't you watch any James Bond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/you-do-not-interrupt-a-man-when-he-is-explaining-his-master-plan/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [“The James Bond movies and the comic books had it all wrong. You did not need elaborate contraptions, complicated plans, and futuristic doomsday weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-caterino/the-james-bond-movies-and-the-comic-books-had-it-all-wrong-you-did/) [James J. Caterino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-j-caterino/) > [I think I would be a good villain in a James Bond movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-think-i-would-be-a-good-villain-in-a-james-bond-movie/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I totally heard by chance that they were doing the casting for a James Bond movie, and that one of the auditions was taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-marlohe/i-totally-heard-by-chance-that-they-were-doing-the-casting-for-a/) [Berenice Marlohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-marlohe/) > [“When had his life turned into a porn version of a James Bond movie?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-swafford/when-had-his-life-turned-into-a-porn-version-of-a-james-bond-movie/) Carla Swafford > [A James Bond movie is a stuntman's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-truglia/a-james-bond-movie-is-a-stuntman-s-dream/) [Steve Truglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-truglia/) > [John Barry was my hero when I was about 13. His scores to the James Bond movies were the scores of my life back then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-burwell/john-barry-was-my-hero-when-i-was-about-13-his-scores-to-the-james/) [Carter Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-burwell/) ## More by James Gunn > [I could give you some names of Workshop participants who are as good as many who are being published but haven't had the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-could-give-you-some-names-of-workshop-participants-who-are-as-good/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I hope I'm still alive to see an expedition set off for Mars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-hope-i-m-still-alive-to-see-an-expedition-set-off-for-mars/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [The zombie is in a lot of ways the perfect horror movie bad guy. It plays on so many fears all at once. 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He isn't cute like Mickey or smart like Bugs or fearless like Woody and Buzz - he's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/scooby-s-the-greatest-cartoon-character-ever-he-isn-t-cute-like/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I don't know if there is any one secret to successful writing, but one important step is to move beyond imitation and discover what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-don-t-know-if-there-is-any-one-secret-to-successful-writing-but-one/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > ['Belko Experiment' was the harshest, most extreme movie I ever made. But I still think there's a very cohesive center to it that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/belko-experiment-was-the-harshest-most-extreme-movie-i-ever-made-but/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [I don't see a big difference between the job of directing a low-budget movie and the job of directing a big-budget movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-don-t-see-a-big-difference-between-the-job-of-directing-a-low/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) [Explore all 110 James Gunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) ## More Bond quotes > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [“The bonds between a family are strange indeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-bonds-between-a-family-are-strange-indeed/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [No action hero is more closely associated with cars than James Bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/no-action-hero-is-more-closely-associated-with-cars-than-james-bond/) [Richard Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [I hope I will not be typecast as a Bond girl for the rest of my life. I'm very proud of being a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/i-hope-i-will-not-be-typecast-as-a-bond-girl-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [Without wanting to claim that I'm really like James Bond I would certainly prefer to be thought of as closer to James Bond than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/without-wanting-to-claim-that-i-m-really-like-james-bond-i-would/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [From '86 until the summer of last year, wherever I went, people would say, You would have made a great James Bond! Weren't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/from-86-until-the-summer-of-last-year-wherever-i-went-people-would/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Apparently, Daniel Craig said I'd be a great Bond. Daniel, why did you say that? Dropped me right in it! What an honor it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/apparently-daniel-craig-said-i-d-be-a-great-bond-daniel-why-did-you/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I will be the first black James Bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-jones/i-will-be-the-first-black-james-bond/) [Dhani Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-jones/) > ['Lakshmi' is a dance film, a musical that deals with the emotional bond between the guru and his sishya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhu-deva/lakshmi-is-a-dance-film-a-musical-that-deals-with-the-emotional-bond/) [Prabhu Deva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhu-deva/) > [When blacks become humanly visible, when their true beliefs are known, their mask shatters and their symbiotic bond with whites is broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/when-blacks-become-humanly-visible-when-their-true-beliefs-are-known/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Once are such precious people, and I wouldn't trade our bond for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahyun/once-are-such-precious-people-and-i-wouldn-t-trade-our-bond-for/) [Dahyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahyun/) > [My word is my bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-word-is-my-bond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am honored to be a Bond girl and be a part of the Bond legacy, To star in a video game with Connery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-menounos/i-am-honored-to-be-a-bond-girl-and-be-a-part-of-the-bond-legacy-to/) [Maria Menounos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-menounos/) [Browse all 863 Bond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bond/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would say the main thing is, don't just copy yourself, which is what a lot of sequels do. 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