Willem Dafoe Won't Bite Into "Twilight"

This story was written by CBSNews.com's Ken Lombardi

In what now stands as at-least his third performance (which we can count) in a film with a vampire-related theme, veteran actor Willem Dafoe, of "Spider-Man" and "Boondock Saints" fame, now stars in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller "Daybreakers" with Ethan Hawke.

While he may seem to have a penchant for such roles in this genre, Dafoe, in a recent interview for CBSNews.com, was quick to set this production apart from the recent blood-sucking craze which has invaded the multiplexes and TV stations as of late.

"This film is smart; there are things for actors to do in it," Dafoe said about "Daybreakers." "They [co-directors Peter and Michael Spierig] were working on this film way before any awareness of 'Twilight.' It was shot almost three years ago."

Conceived by the new-to-the-scene, Australian-based Spiering brothers (who Dafoe says were able to convince him to join this project after an impressive meeting), "Daybreakers" depicts a future ravaged by a disease which has converted the majority of the world's population into blood-sucking creatures who hunt and feast upon a diminished group of human survivors, leaving a limited supply of blood.

Without consuming from the humans, this new society of vampires will turn into horrifying bat-like beasts. Ethan Hawke portrays a compassionate vamp scientist wishing to solve the issue by preserving the last remnants of humanity. Dafoe also leads as a vampire supposedly cured of his affliction by Hawke's character.

The actor did not have to prepare much for the role as he already maintains a chiseled physique which puts many men, especially those much younger than him, to shame. And yet he remains relatively reticent on the matter although he did reveal some secrets. "I do a yoga practice six days a week," he said. "It's something I've been doing for years and years and years. Also, I work in the theater, there's always a physical aspect warming up for shows. I'm a performer; I have to be flexible and physically strong."

As a performer in "Daybreakers," Dafoe has been met with relative acclaim. But despite glowing reviews from the likes of The New York Times and Rolling Stone and a current "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it could still prove difficult for "Daybreakers" to shake away from comparisons to, among others, the by-now ubiquitous "Twilight" franchise and the highly-successful and critically acclaimed HBO television series "True Blood."

"Let's not go crazy here," Dafoe said. "You've got a couple of films that have done very well. And you've got some TV shows. But the vampire theme is flexible and it can be used in so many ways as a metaphor."

Dafoe said such tales concerning these mythic beings have been popular for a long, long time and that the vampire concept serves as a fitting source of symbolic storytelling. Aside from an allegorical plot, Dafoe hopes audiences will also be able to sink their teeth into an entertaining experience at the theaters.

"Daybreakers" is now playing nationwide.