During the course of our conversation we were able to touch on his response to the X-Men news, and a bit about what he thinks fans can expect from this latest addition to the franchise.
IGN: Kevin Bacon sent out that great congratulatory tweet when it was announced that you would be in Days of Future Past. Did you guys ever compare your X-Men experiences on the set of The Following?
Shawn Ashmore: We did talk a little bit about it. We shot the pilot in Atlanta and they shot some of First Class in and around Atlanta. So we talked about it. We knew some of the same people, Bryan Singer having produced First Class. So he was around a little bit, as well as some of the X-Men staple people that we’d both had a chance to work with. We talked about Matthew Vaughn a little bit who was originally supposed to direct -Men III. I went in and was working with them when they were screen testing for the role of Kitty Pryde while he was still on board. So I met him, and spent and afternoon with him. I was excited. I really liked Layer Cake, that’s what he had directed that I’d seen at that point. He was an exciting director. That didn't work out and he moved on to something else, so I kind of asked Kevin about working with Matthew since I didn't get a chance to. And Kevin, I think, had a really good time working on those movies. As did I. So we just had a good chat about that.
(Brett Ratner went on to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, while Vaughn moved on to Stardust, then Kick-Ass and finally X-Men: First Class.)
When it became clear that this next film was Days of Future Past did you start to theorize about the script and what your role in it may or may not be?Not so much, to be honest. With franchise films you just never know. When I heard it was Days of Future Past I knew it was time travel, but the only time I ever really thought, ‘Oh, maybe I’m actually going to be a part of this' is when Bryan came back to direct. And that's just because we have a relationship and had worked together before. I just thought, ‘Oh, maybe Bryan would want to bring back some of the people he worked with before.’ Before that I had no idea, and I didn’t theorize too much because that’s when you get your hopes up. Because for a long time people were talking about the First Class movie like it was just going to be the young X-Men from the trilogy, and sort of just focus on the young members. And obviously that was not the case at all. So I never take anything too seriously when the talk is happening, because until the studio calls you officially, you have no idea.
Your participation was announced very recently, but how long have you known? Did you start to have conversations a month ago? Longer?
Well I didn't find out the day the tweet was sent out, I’ll say that. I knew before that. There had been some talks, but nothing solid. There had been a few phone calls like, ‘Hey are you free?’ And those are always good signs. But until there’s a formal offer, it’s just talk and it can go in a million different directions for many reasons. So I feel like I've known about it for a couple of weeks, but again, it’s really just conversation until the official announcement.
Have you been able to read the script at all?I know about the script, but I haven’t been able to read the script. (Laughs) I haven’t read the script, but I have a very good idea of what’s happening and what my role is. I know, but I’m sworn to secrecy.
You’re an X-Men fan, too.
Ashmore: Yes, absolutely. I grew up reading X-Men comics and other comics as well.
So as a fan are you psyched for the story? Do you think that other X-Men fans are going to be excited about what’s happening and this spin on Days of Future Past?
I do, I do. I think the take on the story is really interesting. I think that Days of Future Past, as any X-Men fans knows, is a great arc. I love the idea of combining and bringing some cohesion to the two timelines that are happening now. I think that’s exciting. Obviously the First Class cast is incredible, and having Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman interact with other cast members is going to be really exciting. Not only is the combination of the cast going to be really cool, but the story itself is going to be really fun.
X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in theaters on July 18, 2014.
Source
I'm really excited for this, I'm not going to pretend I'm not, although I'm trying not to get my hopes too high and be disappointed again (well more like crushed) like I was with X3. I wish that they would bring back Aaron Stanford
