"The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't know that when we began the process"
About this Quote
The subtext is control. A sequel accepts the public’s timeline: you did a thing, now do it again, bigger. A prequel rejects that demand and claims the right to redefine origins, to make the past newly useful. It’s also a soft defense against audience skepticism. “We didn’t know that when we began” reads as disarming honesty, but it’s doing PR work: if the prequel move doesn’t land, it was discovery, not miscalculation; if it does land, it becomes proof of authenticity.
Contextually, it speaks to modern sports culture where every career is content and every decision is narrative. Collins frames process over product, suggesting that identity - in sport, in media, in legacy - isn’t linear. Sometimes the most radical “next step” is going back and changing what the beginning means.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Collins, James. (2026, January 16). The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't know that when we began the process. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-first-is-that-instead-of-writing-a-sequel-122480/
Chicago Style
Collins, James. "The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't know that when we began the process." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-first-is-that-instead-of-writing-a-sequel-122480/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The first is that instead of writing a sequel, which is what most people do, this is in fact a prequel. Although we didn't know that when we began the process." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-first-is-that-instead-of-writing-a-sequel-122480/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
