The intimate jungle gym scenes were a blend of real and virtual sets.

MR: There's no question that they're in love, but there's the "now what?" And I thought that was very chilling. To me, it's like the end of The Graduate. There's some speculation about an epilog that Lindqvist was planning -- I don't know if this is true because we haven't discussed the ending -- how she bites him so they can be together for eternity. And the only thing I'll say about that is that it sounds amazing and also equally dark because being a vampire in his world is not a good thing, either.

BD: Superman?

MR: Well, I think it's an amazing story and can be incredibly interesting to do. It's not true that I have actually had any meetings with Chris Nolan. And I know that people are looking at the movie over at Warner Bros., but I don't know if it has anything to do with that. It was flattering and cool to be on that list, and I have tremendous respect for Chris Nolan.

BD: But Superman is very different from Batman. What is your take on Superman?

MR: I think it speaks to an American optimism, but he's also an outsider and a freak of sorts, and, I don't know, there's something great in the myth. I'm drawn to it. To me, that's what this story was. Lindqvist created a great vampire myth that was about something else, and I think the only thing that would interest me in a personal involvement on that project was to me finding the subtext that had some resonance, and there's no question that that film is going to be a real challenge, but I think with those smart people involved there's a chance they'll do something very interesting with it.

Bill Desowitz is senior editor of AWN & VFXWorld.