You Don’t Need to Reinvent the Wheel: Why Familiar Stories Still Matter

If you’re a filmmaker, writer, or creative of any kind, you’ve probably wrestled with this fear: Is my work original enough? It’s a question that can paralyze even the most talented artists. We spend so much time worrying about breaking new ground that we sometimes forget why audiences show up in the first place.

Brennan Lee Mulligan, one of the sharpest improvisers and storytellers working today, put it best in a recent interview:

"Artists get really obsessed with form sometimes to the expense of content... You don't have to reinvent the form every time. As long as you're doing something from the heart, it will carry the originality of the earnest sentiment of you being a unique human being on the planet."

How I First Discovered Brennan

I first became aware of Brennan through Make Some Noise on Dropout.tv, one of my favorite shows. If you haven’t seen it, it’s an improv comedy game show where comedians are thrown into absurd scenarios and have to deliver on-the-spot performances. It’s chaotic in the best way possible.

What stood out to me about Brennan wasn’t just his sheer comedic talent—though he is ridiculously quick-witted—but how inclusive he is. His humor never punches down, and he has this way of making every bit feel welcoming and expansive rather than exclusive. He brings that same approach to storytelling. His ability to embrace both playfulness and sincerity is part of why I find his perspective on originality so compelling.

The Obsession with Novelty

There’s an unspoken pressure in creative industries to constantly innovate. We see it in Hollywood’s obsession with “elevated” takes on classic genres or in filmmakers trying to reinvent storytelling conventions. But as Brennan points out, audiences aren’t necessarily looking for radical reinvention.

"Audiences aren’t really looking for a fourth type of fluffy breakfast food... what they’re looking for most often is a really amazing pancake."

In other words, people don’t need a completely new kind of story—they just want a good one. A well-crafted sci-fi epic, a heartfelt coming-of-age drama, or a gripping mystery still resonates, even if it echoes themes we’ve seen before.

Repetition Isn’t the Enemy—It’s the Point

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, Hasn’t this story been told before? The answer is yes—because some stories need to be told over and over again.

Brennan offers an example:

"Think about how many stories there have been that say something like ‘You must stand up against the forces of evil, and you must cherish your friends.’ Think about how many stories hit that message—a billion of them. How many of them do I love? 100% of them."

The repetition of themes isn’t a flaw in storytelling; it’s the foundation of it. We return to these ideas because they hold universal truth. The way you tell a story—your personal perspective, your experiences, your voice—is what makes it fresh.

Trust Your Voice—That’s What Makes It Original

One of the biggest blocks for creatives is self-doubt. We hesitate to share our work because we worry it’s not groundbreaking enough. But as Brennan emphasizes, originality isn’t about forcing something new—it’s about being yourself:

"If you're being authentic to yourself, that's the originality. You're already unique. Your collaborators are already unique. That’s the originality."

Instead of chasing a never-before-seen idea, focus on telling the stories that resonate with you. Audiences aren’t looking for a completely new genre—they just want a good, well-made, honest piece of work.

So the next time you sit down to create, don’t get caught up in reinventing the wheel. Just make the best pancake you can.

Final Thoughts

Brennan’s insights remind me why I love his work—whether it’s in storytelling, improv, or comedy. His ability to bring people in, to make them feel welcome in the world of storytelling, is what makes him stand out.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or the pressure to be groundbreaking, remember this: Your perspective is already one-of-a-kind. That’s enough.

So what’s your “pancake”? What story are you telling that’s been told before, but in a way that only you can tell?