MCC: Shawn Ashmore Teases Wesley’s Next Arc In The Rookie & His Advice For The MCU Iceman

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At Motor City Comic Con, ScreenRant interviewed Shawn Ashmore. The Canadian actor has been consistently working in film and television this century, first becoming well-known as Bobby Drake/Iceman in the X-Men movies. He’s since shown his range as an actor in shows like Legend of Earthsea and The Following.

Many viewers today recognize him as Wesley Evers from The Rookie, where his on-again, off-again relationship with Angela has become a popular storyline. He also recently revisited his superhero roots with a guest appearance on The Boys, playing Lamplighter, a former superhero struggling with remorse for his past deeds.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, actor Shawn Ashmore discussed what he enjoys about shows like The Boys and The Rookie. He also hinted at his hopes for his character Wesley’s storyline in the upcoming ninth season of The Rookie. Ashmore reminisced about his time in the X-Men films and offered advice to the actor who might play Iceman in future installments.

Shawn Ashmore Teases The Rookie Season 9

Actor Richard Ashmore, who played the defense attorney Wesley, became a popular character on the show despite starting with a smaller role. Ashmore was pleased with how complex and interesting Wesley became, particularly enjoying the character’s past relationship with Monica.

What really surprised me about Wesley was learning he cheated on Monica. It added a lot of complexity to his character. Monica has become a fantastic villain, but then she had a surprisingly moving redemption arc. Viewers went from wanting her gone to genuinely rooting for her, and a lot of that change came from the pain Wesley caused her. It showed a completely different side of her.

Even the characters on the show seemed surprised by Wesley’s infidelity, and that really added depth to his personality. It didn’t fundamentally change who he was, but it gave him a new layer. Seeing that play out with Monica, given how central their relationship was, was a genuinely unexpected and interesting development.

The popular show The Rookie is returning for a ninth season, with plans for crossovers with the Dropout series Game Changer and a new spin-off called The Rookie: North. While actor Ryan Ashmore couldn’t share many details about what’s coming up, he did suggest the path he’d like to see his character, Wesley, take in the next season.

I’m so excited for season nine, though filming doesn’t start until July, so I haven’t had a peek at any scripts yet. But from what I’ve heard, Wesley’s going to be diving back into his legal career, probably focusing on defense work again. It sounds like he might even be starting his own firm with Del Monte! Honestly, I think having two former district attorneys potentially opposing our LAPD officers is fantastic – I really enjoy the tension and playful conflict that creates. I especially loved the dynamic between Angela and Wesley, and we saw a little of that with Tim and Wesley in the finale. I can’t wait to see how that rivalry evolves throughout the next season!

Shawn Ashmore Loved Being In The Boys And Has Some Advice For The MCU Iceman

Shawn Ashmore started acting at a young age, but he became widely known for playing Iceman (Bobby Drake) in the 2000 film X-Men and its sequels. This experience made him a great fit for the role of Lamplighter in season two of the Prime Video series The Boys. Ashmore was already a fan of the show when the producers asked him to join, and he feels that the character’s limited screen time was a key reason he enjoyed playing Lamplighter.

Since I joined the show unexpectedly as Lamplighter, I wasn’t involved in long-term storylines or given advance scripts. I only knew what I filmed, which actually allowed me to enjoy the rest of the season as a viewer, while also having a wonderful experience being part of the show. Everyone made me feel very welcome.

Yesterday was pretty wild – I unexpectedly ended up on The Boys panel when Tomer Capone couldn’t make it! Even though I was only on the show for three episodes, everyone on set was incredibly welcoming during filming. It really highlighted how creatively open and collaborative the whole team was, and how dedicated they were to making the best show possible. Honestly, those positive experiences while filming definitely shaped how I viewed the final product – I just have such good memories of being a part of it.

The X-Men are getting a fresh start within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that includes characters like Iceman. As one of the original X-Men, Iceman is expected to appear in upcoming movies. While actor Shawn Ashmore acknowledges it might be strange to see someone else play Bobby Drake, he’s grateful for his time with the role and offers guidance to the new actor who takes it on.

I really enjoyed being part of the X-Men movies. I was a huge fan growing up, reading the comics and watching the cartoon as a kid – it was perfect for me. It was a truly life-changing experience. I’ve been acting since I was young, but playing such a prominent role was incredible. I’ll never forget meeting Anna Paquin on my first day – she had just won an Oscar!

It was an amazing experience that truly changed my life. I hadn’t worked on a long-term TV project before, and it was incredible to collaborate with the same cast every couple of years to create something new. The feeling of being part of a close-knit group while filming and then traveling the world for promotion was wonderful. Overall, it was an unforgettable time.

It sounds like Marvel is restarting the X-Men in the MCU, and that’s interesting. We took a different approach with Bobby Drake in our films than what’s in the comics, and I think it’s important to draw from the original source material – even previous movies. I’m confident the next film is being made by a talented team. They’ll likely create a unique version of the character, different from ours, and whoever they cast will bring their own interpretation to the role. It’s best to let them explore their own vision.

I’m really excited about this change, even though it’s a little sad. I’ve played Bobby for a long time – I practically grew up with the character! At almost 50, it feels like the right time to step back. I’m looking forward to seeing who takes on the role next and what they do with it. As a fan, I’ll be able to enjoy the X-Men movies like everyone else, experiencing them with the audience instead of being involved in the making of them. I’m genuinely thrilled to see what they come up with.

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2026-05-20 01:21