Anne Rice actually /hated/ the ending of IWTV; her script (she wrote the rest of the screenplay) ended the same way the book did, with Daniel running off to find Lestat; Neil Jordan, the director, thought it was a bit too grim and wanted to end on a more upbeat note, and late into production added the glorious end scene with the return of Lestat and the G&R cover of Sympathy for the Devil. I (for once) side with Mr. Jordan here. The ending is beautiful.