ScreenRant: Shawn Ashmore On Playing Iceman And Passing The Torch To A New X-MEN Generation

During a ScreenRant interview with Shawn Ashmore at Motor City Comic Con, the actor opened up to Brandon Zachary about his time playing Bobby Drake, also known as Iceman, across the long-running X-Men franchise. Looking back on the experience, Ashmore described the role as life-changing and spoke fondly about growing up as a fan of Marvel’s mutant heroes before eventually stepping into the world himself.

Ashmore explained that joining the X-Men films was a surreal experience for him, especially since he had spent his childhood reading X-Men comics and watching the classic animated series after school. He recalled how starring alongside actors like Anna Paquin elevated the experience to another level and helped shape both his career and personal life. Beyond the blockbuster scale of the films, Ashmore said one of the most rewarding parts was reuniting with the cast every few years to continue the story, describing the group as feeling like a family during production and worldwide press tours.

The actor also shared his thoughts on the future of the X-Men franchise in the Marvel Studios era, acknowledging that a reboot appears to be on the horizon for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ashmore pointed out that his version of Bobby Drake differed greatly from the comic book interpretation, and he believes future filmmakers should continue exploring fresh takes on the character while still respecting the source material. He expressed confidence that the next incarnation of the X-Men is “in very good hands” and believes the next actor cast as Iceman will ultimately make the role their own.

While Ashmore admitted it feels “bittersweet” to move on from a character he has portrayed for decades, he also embraced the idea of a new generation carrying the torch forward. Joking that he is “almost 50” and can’t play the role forever, the actor said he is genuinely excited to watch the next era of X-Men films as a fan instead of someone directly involved behind the scenes.

Source: ScreenRant