John Cusack, known for starring in beloved films such as ‘Say Anything’, ‘High Fidelity’ and ‘Serendipity’, has explained why he stopped starring in major film productions to focus on writing fiction. The 60-year-old actor cited creative freedom as the main driving force behind his transition, revealing in an interview that his new graphic novel “Momo” represents the kind of artistic autonomy that studio filmmaking no longer allows.According to Variety, Cusack spoke about her artistic journey while promoting ‘Momo,’ a genre graphic novel illustrated by Ignacio Noé. The publication noted that the project follows two fugitives who form an unlikely alliance in 1972 as they set out to retrieve an ancient artifact for TV legend Jackie Gleason, mixing science fiction with political satire.
John Cusack praises graphic novels for the possibilities of cinematic storytelling
When asked what intrigued him about translating his ideas into graphic novel format, Cusack reflected on the visual storytelling potential of the medium. “I always thought they were the most film-like things,” he said. “You’re picking shots, they’re very cinematic.”
Cusack praised the project for being created solely by himself and illustrator Ignacio Noé without committee edits or studio oversight. Image Credit (Instagram)
The actor detailed his creative process, noting that the format allowed him to tell stories without the limitations of traditional cinema. “I thought, I want to tell a story, but I didn’t want to trade telling a story, really,” Cusack explained.
John Cusack prioritizes creative control over studio interference and committee decisions
The actor highlighted the financial and creative pressures involved in making studio films. “When you ask someone to put $20 million or $30 million in a bank account for a movie, they want to have an opinion, and they’re scared and all that stuff,” he said.Working with the illustrator Ignacio Noé turned out to be a liberating experience. “That was like I wrote it and said, ‘I like the story,’ and then I got this beautiful, wonderful artist, Ignacio Noé, to do the illustrations, and so nobody edited anything that I wrote or that he drew. So it’s really just two people who did a great job of publishing it.”
The actor said he would happily return to the screen if his graphic novel is adapted into a feature film. Image Credit (Instagram)
Cusack emphasized that the autonomy she experienced with ‘Momo’ represents something increasingly rare in contemporary entertainment. “There’s no bull, and there’s no committee. There’s no computer in Seattle to test it,” he said, characterizing the project as “an anti-algorithm thing.”
John Cusack open to star in the film adaptation of ‘Momo’
Despite her retirement from mainstream cinema, Cusack expressed her willingness to return to acting if her graphic novel is greenlit for a film adaptation. “If fans loved ‘Momo’ enough for a studio to greenlight her for film production, she would love to star in the adaptation,” he said.This marks Cusack’s graphic novel debut, although he previously co-wrote a collection of essays in 2016 titled “Things That Can and Can’t Be Said.” The project demonstrates his broader shift towards independent creative pursuits that prioritize artistic vision over commercial considerations.
Sister Joan Cusack steps out of the spotlight after an 11-year hiatus
Cusack isn’t the only member of her family to step away from the entertainment industry spotlight. In May, her older sister Joan Cusack made her first public appearance on the red carpet since September 2015, ending an extended hiatus of more than a decade. He attended the London premiere of ‘Toy Story 5’, which marked a significant return to the public eye.
John Cusack dismisses most contemporary films, expresses skepticism about sequels
Earlier this year, Cusack shared candid thoughts on the current state of cinema when asked about sequels during a December screening of his 1989 film “Say Anything.” “I was lucky I never had the urge, or nobody asked me to do any sequels,” he said with a laugh.However, he acknowledged a possible exception. “There’s one that I think would be interesting to do, which would be ‘1408.’ Just because… I think today, you know, most movies hurt,” the actor remarked, underscoring his broader critique of contemporary cinema and his preference for more selective creative choices.‘Momo’ is slated to release on September 29.