'Last Stand': 'X-Men' Looking for the Right Fit

Of the four, Ashmore came into the project with perhaps the most prior "X"-pertise, having spent much of his youth immersed in the "X-Men" mythology. "I used to watch the [television] cartoon after school with my snack," he says, "and I still have a box of comics at home with a few 'X-Men' comics in there."

Paquin and Ramirez, on the other hand, consider themselves "new" fans, having discovered only the comic books in preparation for their roles. "Someone handed me a huge stack of exclusively Rogue comics," recalls Paquin, whose on-screen character manifests more psychological torment than acrobatic ability. "I thought, 'Jesus, there's so many.' "

All four say they'd jump at the chance to return in an "X-Men 4." Still, they profess astonishment when a reporter informs them that there's a secret teaser clip tacked on to the film -- that runs after the closing credits -- and that suggests, in tantalizingly vague terms, not just where such a sequel might head, but that it is inevitable.

"Oh, really?" says Paquin, leaning forward. "You're kidding me."

"You're kidding me," repeats Ashmore, who explains he walked out of a screening of the film after 45 seconds of end credits because "I already know everybody in the movie."

"And this is after the chess scene?" asks Stanford, referring to what only appears to be the film's last shot.

"Wow," whispers Ramirez.

Sounds like some Junior X-Men didn't do their homework.

"Congratulations," says Paquin. "You just surprised all four of us."