Reports last week that director James Mangold and star Hugh Jackman have begun negotiations to return for a sequel to The Wolverine came as a surprise, considering the actor had suggested repeatedly that X-Men: Days of Future Past might be his seventh and final appearance as the fan-favorite mutant. And while Jackman wouldn't confirm his Wolverine plans to Entertainment Weekly, it's clear he'd like to don those adamantium claws again.

"I was on the phone with Jim Mangold last night,” he said. “There are some really cool ideas that I’m dying to tell you, but that would be giving away a secret that is not even [fully] formed yet. [...] “I do want to do it with Jim and with [producer] Lauren Shuler-Donner because we had such a great experience. I’m really proud of The Wolverine.”

Of course, there is a but. “I don’t want to dive into another one until we have a compelling reason to do another one,” Jackman added. “I love the character, he’s kind of like a best friend to me, and I don’t ever want to take [him] or the fans for granted. … I think we’ve got a great opportunity to make something really cool, but it has to be great. That’s what we’re all working toward.”

The Wolverine arrives on Blu-ray Dec. 3. Jackman will next be seen as the character in Bryan Singer's X-Men: Days of Future Past, which arrives May 23.