Shawn Ashmore: I honestly don’t know [if I’ll return as Iceman in future #XMen films].

Shawn Ashmore recently spoke with NY Daily News about his return as Iceman in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The actor admits that he thought his time as Bobby was over after filming X3 in 2006 and seeing producers move forward with the “First Class” theme.

“I’d sort of thought that [it was over for me] after ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’” he said. “After that, with ‘First Class,’ I thought it was my last time doing Iceman. So with ‘Days of Future Past,’ I think I always sort of had that last go-round idea in the back of my head. There’s only so many times you get to fly around in a black leather outfit, so I try to enjoy every minute of it.”

In DOFP, we see future Iceman avoiding Sentinels with Kitty Pryde, Colossus and a host of new mutants. Ashmore thinks Bobby’s evolution in the series is clear.

“The idea of people thinking Bobby was a student in the first film, but now he’s not trying to fit in anymore. He is an X-Man. We finally see Bobby do the ice slide. He’s probably at the age that comic book fans would recognize him in the comic books. It’s kind of fun.”

Does he expect to return as Iceman in future films?

“I honestly don’t know,” he said. “But because ‘Apocalypse’ is happening next and it’s focusing on the First Class cast from what I’ve heard … I don’t know. Right now, it looks like the focus is going to be on the ‘First Class’ cast.

“This is definitely one role that I’m really fond of,” he said. “I love playing Bobby. I feel very connected to this role, and these movies, because it gave me a huge opportunity. I’m always open to being a part of these films. I love the character.”

Pick up DOFP on Blu-ray and DVD when it releases in stores on October 14th.