KS: Well, it’s clear that this is the first time we’ve worked with Ben Affleck (grins). The trepidation came in moving away from the familiar. Not using a net, so to speak. not having Jay & Silent Bob to whip out at any moment when I felt like “Shit, I ran out of shit to say!” Or with not interconnecting the movie with the previous five. Not relying on profanity-laden humor. Kind of the easy go-to and stuff like that.

I certainly don’t sit here now saying “I’ll never do that shit again” or go back to that well because I’m bereft of ideas. It was nice to do something where the bag of tricks is empty and you’re trying to tell one story that you don’t need to see five other movies to fully appreciate or a story that stands on its own. It wasn’t necessarily something that was an inside joke or made for your fan base.

It was real frightening because hardcore Jay & Bob dudes aren’t going to come back to this movie. Or if they do they’ll be like “You pussed out! Where are your balls?” I’ll tell them quite frankly that “My wife has them.”

It’s nothing out of the ordinary. Most people do it all the time. They don’t make interconnected movies and shit like that. For me, though, that’s something I hadn’t done yet. I kind of appreciated it. It’s a one-off. I’m not turning into John Hughes. I’m not obsessed with children in a Michael Jackson-like fashion. I wanted to tell a story about kids. That’s all I had to say about fatherhood at this time. So now, on to something else.

M: Was George Carlin your first choice?

KS: George Carlin I wrote it for. I told him I was going to write it when we were wrapping up “Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back.” He was only on it for a day. So we were heading back from the set in the van and I said “George, I’m writing you a big part in the next movie.” He’s just like “If you’re going to write me a part, write me my dream role. I want to play a clergyman who strangles six children.” I said “I’ve come too close to making that movie already. This role’s not quite the same thing, but it is substantial.” He said “All right.” He responded to it. George has always been something of a frustrated actor. He says he got into radio and got into comedy so he could get into movies. He’s had a shot here and there, but never really got to bite into something really meaty. He was in “Prince of Tides” but he got to play the gay neighbor so it’s not like he had a lot to work with. I think he kind of relished the opportunity to be this guy who’s multifaceted, gets to be funny and also gets to be kind of poignant.

M: Are you going to have a spot for all of your buddies in the new movie?

KS: I’m going to bring Mewes with me. I’ve got a part for Mewes and I told him “I’ve got a part for you in the ‘Green Hornet’.” He goes “I’m playing the Green Hornet?” I’m like “No! No, you’re not going to play the Green Hornet.” He’s like “Well, what’s the point then?” It’s a cool part. Trust me, it will be cool.

HR: Will you be finishing the “Black Cat” or the “Daredevil: Target” stories?

KS: As soon as I’m done with this tour I’ll be locking myself in a room and doing both of those scripts that I owe.