Interview: Javier Munoz teases Lorenzo Rey’s role in Shadowhunters season 3
Javier Munoz is living the ultimate Shadowhunters fan dream as Lorenzo Rey! See what he teased about Lorenzo’s role as High Warlock, how he’ll affect Malec in season 3, and who Lorenzo is most like in Hamilton.
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Shadowhunters season 3, episode 2 introduces the new High Warlock on Brooklyn, Lorenzo Rey. You’ve likely already scene a small clip of Magnus and Alec meeting Lorenzo, but what you may not already know is that actor Javier Munoz is a Shadowhunters (and Malec) super-fan himself, participating in the #ShadowhuntersChat online for the past two seasons. He also recently finished an incredible run in Hamilton on broadway, but as the new High Warlock, he’ll be attending a whole different kind of cabinet meeting.
We spoke with Munoz last week to learn what it’s been like to join the Shadowhunters cast, how Lorenzo will be shaking things up in season 3, and why he’s not letting other cast members tell him what they’re filming!
Hidden Remote: Hi, Javier! My name is Marissa and I’m with Hidden Remote. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I remember when you used to tweet about Shadowhunters back in the day, and I know you’ve been a fan of the series. You’re essentially living the ultimate fan dream right now. What was it like to become part of this world and part of the show?
Javier Munoz: The only word I can think of is surreal. It really is surreal. There are moments where I am… [laughs], I’m such a geek about this. I really am. There are moments when I’m on the set and maybe there’s a part of the set that I have not yet seen, and I’ll look at it and go, ‘Oh! That’s from the episode! And that’s from that scene!” and I’m having the nerdiest, geekiest party. I’m freaking out over it and taking photos of everything that I can. You know? I’m reduced to being a seven-year old again, and it’s just fun and it’s exciting. And then I turn around, and I’m working with these incredible folks who I’ve watched for two seasons. They’re awesome, and so it’s surreal. All the things you would think it is, it is.
Hidden Remote: So then did anything surprise you about the set when you first saw it in person?
Javier Muñoz: Oh, totally. It’s that movie magic thing. It’s about finding out how things actually work — how things actually are when you can touch them and see them. You go ‘Oh, that’s how they do that!’ It’s little things like that, which of course I don’t want to give away. It doesn’t ruin it for me, in fact it just sort of creates more of that magic feeling. It’s just like theater when you get on set for the first time and just sort of explore it and go, ‘Oh, that’s how we’re going to make this happen.’ It’s part of the storytelling because your set is literally like a character in the piece. It’s awesome; it’s really awesome. And yes, I’m going to be nerding out and geeking out this entire interview, just so you know.
Hidden Remote: Same! And we know a little bit about Lorenzo already. We know he’s the new high warlock, and he’s a bit of a rival to Magnus this season, but what are his priorities as the new high warlock?
Javier Muñoz: Oh, that’s a good question. I want to say most of the bulk you need to know about Lorenzo you’ll find out [this] week’s episode. His introduction is very thorough, and it’s not too heavy on the details, but the blanket general information you get is enough to be like ‘Oh, ok. I understand who this guy is.’ As far as his agenda and what’s really going on underneath the surface, that’s going to unfold through the season. And what I can say is his sort of bad guy, sinister calculatedness is not unwarranted, and it’s not just him purely being a bad guy.
There’s a history between him and Magnus. They go back a long time, and I want to say I think I’m 300 years old? I moisturize, which is a good thing, but they’re old. They have a long history together, and so there’s a lot to find out and uncover. But that’s my favorite part of Lorenzo — he’s not just a blanket, typical bad-guy character — there’s a lot there. You’ll learn more and more every time he comes back about what’s been going on there between him and Magnus.
Hidden Remote: Are you able to tease how Lorenzo might impact Magnus and Alec’s relationship this season?
Javier Muñoz: It’s so funny because the fan in me gets butterflies in the stomach [laughs]. Umm, I can’t really. But what I can say is that fans are going to hate Lorenzo, but they’re going to love to hate him. He’s a charming character and he is problematic. He’s going to come in and really be a thorn in Magnus’ side in all ways, in all aspects of Magnus’ life. But the season isn’t over yet, and there’s still more that I’m discovering, so sky’s the limit as far as where this can go. What I can say, as far is Malec is concerned, just know you’re going to love to hate him.
Hidden Remote: So I know you recently finished an amazing run in Hamilton, and I actually had the pleasure of seeing you in it 2 years ago.
Javier: Oh wow, no way! Holy moly.
Hidden Remote: And I wanted to ask you, if Lorenzo were a character in Hamilton, who do you think he would be?
Javier: Oh, that’s so good. I love that. Ok gimme a second, gimme a second. Lorenzo? I want to say it’s aspects of two characters. Lorenzo could be Jefferson, and Lorenzo could be Burr. He’s sort of a combination of the two of them, which is of course ultimately a great challenge for Hamilton, so I’m obviously making Magnus Hamilton.
I would say he’s a combination of Jefferson and Burr because there’s that rich history of friendship let’s say between Burr and Hamilton, and there’s a rich history between Lorenzo and Magnus. But there’s also a competition, right? That’s the Jefferson aspect. So I think it would be a combination of the two. That’s a great question; I loved that.
Hidden Remote: Oh, good. I was like, ‘maybe he’s going to think this is a weird question,’ but that was such a great answer! So, I think you’ve already talked a little about this, but what do you think fans are going to love to hate the most about Lorenzo this season?
Javier: I think you’re going to see his heart. I think no matter what, you’re going to see the human being underneath all of the trouble he’s causing. And so I think because of that, because of that writing, because of the freedom they’ve given me to explore that as an actor, there’s a comedic side, a sarcasm, and a wit to Lorenzo that then becomes something that I think is endearing about him. Lorenzo’s not afraid to make a fool of himself, so I think there are aspects to him that sort of buffer and calm the waters even though he is definitely stirring things up. And I think fans are going to really enjoy that… I think the writing of it is really wonderful, and I think the execution of it is really rich.
Hidden Remote: Amazing! I am so excited for this week’s episode like no other.
Javier: Me too! I’m going to freak out! Can I confess something? I rewatched the teaser at the end of the first episode where Lorenzo comes in and they show him for the first time. I have watched that like 5 times, and I squealed every single time in my living room. It’s so unbelievable.
(See the trailer to which he’s referring below:)
Hidden Remote: They released another Shadowhunters scene with Malec and Lorenzo, and I watched that like 3 or 4 times in my car after work, so there you go.
Javier: That’s awesome!
Hidden Remote: And I just have one more question for you. Is there a theme for season 3 you’re most looking forward to see play out on screen?
Javier: I’ve tried to avoid reading anything that Lorenzo’s not in because I also want to be surprised by a lot. And so I’ve even stopped some of the cast from saying something or giving something away. I’m like ‘No, no, no — I want to see it. Let me find out for myself.’ But I’m going to say the theme of friendship and all of the aspects of friendship because friendship isn’t always pretty and friendship isn’t always gentle. Sometimes friendship is very difficult and so I think all the aspects of friendship come into play with these relationships throughout the season, from what I know, because I’ve also tried to avoid a lot so that I can just enjoy watching as a fan.
Next: Everything you need to know about Shadowhunters 3x02
Javier Munoz makes his Shadowhunters debut Tuesday, March 27 at 8/7c everywhere you watch Freeform.