John Cusack opened up about why he’s largely taken a step back from Hollywood.

The “Being John Malkovich” star, 60, said he wanted to tell stories without studio executives weighing in, prompting him to write his upcoming graphic novel “Momo.”

“I always thought [graphic novels] were the closest things to film, really,” he told Variety at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday. “You’re picking out shots, they’re so cinematic.”

Cusack explained he turned to writing because he “didn’t [want to] negotiate telling a story.”

“When you ask somebody to put $20 million or $30 million into a bank account [for a film], they want to have an opinion and they’re afraid and all that stuff,” he said.

Instead, he teamed up with illustrator Ignacio Noé to create “Momo” on their own terms.

“This was just like, I wrote it, and I said, ‘I like the story,’ and then I got this beautiful, wonderful artist, Ignacio Noé, to do the illustrations and so nobody edited anything I wrote or that he drew,” Cusack said.

“So it’s really a piece of work that was just done by two people. It was just me and Ignacio’s story, and that doesn’t happen today.”

“There’s no bull, and there’s no committee. There’s no computer up in Seattle that’s poll testing it,” he added.

“Momo” — Cusack’s first graphic novel — is set to be released on Sept. 29.

The story follows two fugitives in 1972 who set out to recover an ancient artifact for TV icon Jackie Gleason.

The actor spent decades as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading men, starring in “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “High Fidelity” and “Con Air,” but his acting career has become increasingly selective in recent years.

He appeared in the 2025 films “Fog of War” and the Mandarin-language film “Detective Chinatown 1900” after starring in the Chinese espionage thriller “Decoded” in 2024.

Before that, his only screen credits since 2020 were the action thriller “Pursuit” and Amazon’s dystopian series “Utopia.”

Cusack has been outspoken about the state of Hollywood for years.

“My friend Joe Roth ran Disney [until 2000],” he told the Guardian in 2014. “He made things like ‘The Rock’ and ‘Con Air’ to make shareholders happy, but then he also gave six or seven slots to people he liked.

“I got to make ‘High Fidelity’ and ‘Grosse Pointe Blank.’ Spike Lee got to make ‘Summer of Sam.’ Wes Anderson got to make ‘Rushmore.’ I had that memory of film and that’s gone.”

“Now it’s six for them — with a committee cutting the film who weren’t part of making it – and maybe one for you,” he added.

Cusack isn’t the only member of his family to step away from the spotlight.

His older sister, actress Joan Cusack, 63, made her first red-carpet appearance since 2015 in May when she attended the London premiere of “Toy Story 5,” ending an 11-year absence from public events.

“I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time,” the actress told Variety in June. “But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person.”

Kelly Clarkson defended her right to remain single during a recent Las Vegas residency show.

“People are like, ‘Oh, why are you single?’ And I’m like, ‘First of all, there are a lot of people out here making single look real good,’” the talk show host told the crowd Friday at her “Studio Sessions” show at Caesars Palace, per social media footage.

“And if you didn’t really understand what I meant by that, it’s like you see relationships and you’re like, ‘I am so glad I’m going home alone.’”

She jokingly added, “You know what’s not happening in my house? That s–t.”

“If you are in a relationship, the hardest part I feel like is just keeping that fire alive and still dating,” the “American Idol” winner continued. “And, like, still making it feel magical and not monotonous.”

The “Miss Independent” hitmaker, 44, has kept her dating life under wraps since she finalized her divorce from late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in 2022.

Blackstock — who shared daughter River Rose, 12, and son Remy, 10, with the pop star — died in August 2025 at the age of 48 after battling melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.

Though she returned to “The Kelly Clarkson Show” that September, Page Six reported in January that the Grammy winning songstress would be ending the daytime talk show.

The mom of two confirmed the impending end of her series in February, writing in a social media statement that there had “been so many amazing moments and shows over these seven seasons.”

She added that she’s “forever grateful and honored to have worked alongside the greatest band and crew you could hope for” and acknowledged “all the talent and inspiring people who have shared their time and lives with us.”

Clarkson wrote that it was “not an easy decision” to step away, and noted that she felt it’s “necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives” to prioritize her children.

The show will wrap up and air its final episodes this fall and her summer Las Vegas residency runs through Aug. 15.

Clarkson also released her new single, “I’d Be Lyin’,” on July 17.

Prior to Blackstock’s passing, Clarkson — who filed for divorced from the producer in 2020 and saw the legal matter settled in 2022 — addressed why she isn’t dating.

“Dating can be very difficult, which is why I don’t,” she told her Las Vegas audience in July 2025.

Clarkson said at the time that since dating “is hard anyway,” it can be a “dumpster fire” when you “add a spotlight.”

Eric Dane believed that “Euphoria” was “the most profound experience” of his career. 

Dane appeared in the documentary special, “Euphoria: A Look Back,” in interview footage recorded before his death. 

“It was at times challenging, but the challenges were taken as opportunities,” Dane reflected. “It’s been such a wonderful experience.”

Series creator Sam Levinson remembered Dane as “a wonderful human being” and “a wonderful actor.” 

“He showed up every day with grace and dignity,” Levinson said in the special. 

Dane also reflected on the other “Euphoria” cast member who passed away, Angus Cloud, who died from an accidental fentanyl overdose on July 31, 2023, at the age of 25.

He called Cloud a “very talented young man” who “was tough on all of us.” 

Dane died at 53 in February, following an ALS battle. Before his death, the “Grey’s Anatomy” star completed filming for his role in “Euphoria” Season 3, which aired from April through May. 

The Season 3 premiere also included a photo of Dane onscreen with the message, “In remembrance of Eric Dane. 1972-2026.”

In all three seasons of the HBO drama, which aired from 2019 to 2026, Dane played Cal Jacobs. He had a volatile relationship with his son, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi). 

The show ultimately ended with Nate getting killed by mobsters he was indebted to. 

Cal and the rest of his family were unaware of Nate’s fate. 

Elordi, who also appeared in the special, recalled his face turning “red” during his audition because he was, “so nervous” — but Levinson “liked that.” 

“He was so good and committed,” the creator recalled. 

“Euphoria: A Look Back” featured interviews with the cast and crew, and scenes from all three seasons. It didn’t address the various behind the scenes cast feud rumors, or Season 3 getting critically slammed.  Zendaya also only appeared in old interview footage.

The show started as a dark high school drama, following the teen drug addict Rue (Zendaya) and her classmates: insecure Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), angry jock Nate (Elordi), Maddy (Alexa Demie), Jules (Hunter Schafer), affable drug dealer Fez (Cloud), and others. 

“Euphoria” was a wild starmaker – Zendaya, Elordi, and Sweeney are global celebrities, but they didn’t have their current A-list status at the time that the show premiered. 

By Season 2, which aired in 2022, “Euphoria” was HBO’s most watched show after “Game of Thrones,” with nearly 20 million viewers tuning in. 

Apatow said, “we’re connected in a  very deep way and have been through a lot together. I’m so happy for everyone’s success.”

Levinson reflected that it’s “amazing” to see “filmmakers and directors who I idolize” talk about how great actors like Elordi, Sweeney, and Zendaya are. 

His wife, Ashley Levinson, who produces the show, said, “we support” and “root for” each other. 

 “Euphoria: A Look Back” is now streaming on HBO Max.