Anna Paquin - Anna Paquin, Ellen Page and Shawn Ashmore return to X-Men: Days of Future Past

Anna Paquin, Ellen Page and Shawn Ashmore return to X-Men: Days of Future Past

Anna Paquin, Ellen Page and Shawn Ashmore are returning to 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'.

The trio have become the latest actors confirmed to reprise their roles in the new chapter of the franchise about a group of mutant superheroes, with director Brian Singer announcing the news over Twitter.

Brian gave special thanks to Brett Ratner, who directed the final film in the original trilogy, 'X-Men: The Last Stand', for letting their characters live.

He tweeted: ''Very excited to welcome #annapaquin, @ellenpage & @shawnrashmore to #XMen#DaysofFuturePast - thank you@BrettRatner for letting them live!''

'True Blood' star Anna will once again play Rogue and up-and-coming actor Shawn will return as Bobby 'Iceman' Drake, while 'Juno' actress Ellen - who only featured in the third film - is due to come back as Kitty Pryde, a mutant who possesses the power to pass through almost any object.

Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen will return as Professor Xavier and Magneto, and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender will play the younger versions of the characters in the time-travelling movie. Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Lawrence have also signed on to return.

Hugh - who plays clawed hero Wolverine - recently hinted that every actor to grace the screen in the franchise was likely to return for the ''action-packed'' follow-up, which will see the mutants trapped in futuristic concentration camps.

He teased: ''You wouldn't have enough room on the page after you've listed all [the stars]. Every other actor who's ever put on a superhero uniform will be in it. There's an element of time travel and, naturally, it will be action-packed.''