Lorenzo Rey makes his Shadowhunters debut in “The Powers That Be.” Ahead of the premiere, Hypable caught up with actor, and fan, Javier Muñoz.

When you pick up the phone and have Javier Muñoz on the other end of the line, be prepared to have your cheeks hurt by the end of the interview. Muñoz’s candor about being a part of Shadowhunters left me feeling like I was geeking out over a series with another fan, and not an actor promoting it. In a sense that is exactly what I was doing.

Javier Muñoz is a fan first, guest star second. As a follower of the show for two seasons, the stars (and schedules) aligned allowing Muñoz to leave the Hamilton stage in New York City and travel to Vancouver to originate the role of Lorenzo Rey, the new High Warlock of Brooklyn. On set, Muñoz lived out most fans’ wildest dreams – snapping pictures, avoiding spoilers, and absorbing the distinctive atmosphere that surrounds this series.

Lorenzo Rey makes his grand entrance in Shadowhunters season 3, episode 2, “The Powers That Be.” His arrival is meant to provide a foil to Harry Shum Jr.’s Magnus Bane, but Muñoz cautions that while it will be easy to hate Lorenzo, there might be a bit more to his story than initially meets the eye.

’Shadowhunters’ season 3 interview: Javier Muñoz

As a guest star on the series, you were able to have an experience that most fans will never get – seeing a world that they love in the flesh. As a fan yourself, what were those first couple of days on set, meeting the cast, like?

It was surreal. And I’m going to fanboy out right now – it was absolutely surreal. Two seasons in, loving all these characters, I couldn’t believe I was about to walk onto that set.

This will sum it up, I took photos of everything. I took photos of every doorknob that I touched. I just could not document enough.

I was in the trailer for hair and makeup and everyone was there. [The cast] was lovely, hugging and cheerful and just so welcoming. But there was this banter. I was sitting all the way at the end observing their energy as they are all getting their hair and makeup done and it was so joyous.

And it was literally like this is the dream come true, this is insane. It’s been surreal and it’s been nothing but joyful the entire time.

Since you are originating the role of Lorenzo Rey on screen, was there any freedom there? What was bringing this character to life from an actor’s perspective as opposed to a fan.

It’s extraordinary. Who you will meet next week, what you’ll see, that’s the foundation of who this character is. And as I’ve been able to come back and do more and more episodes, they allowed me to of course dig in to his being so sinister and calculating and having an agenda, having this grudge against Magnus and having a history there that of course you’ll come to find out.

But there was room for a little bit more. I felt like he could be a little spoiled. He could have a little levity, he could have a little comedy to him. And they allowed me to add those layers in, those colors in where Lorenzo’s smiling at you, but what he’s doing is very sinister.

So, it’s kind of delicious to play that kind of role where he’s the guy you are going to love to hate.

Speaking of ‘love to hate,’ the clip from 3×02 has Magnus entering the Warlock party and seeing you as Lorenzo. You’re right, instantly, I knew I could hate this character. But this is a character who is coming in with his own set of beliefs, who thinks that what he is doing is restoring something that Magnus lost. There’s always a level of motivation that I think fans should understand. Can you speak to anything without revealing too much that will help fans understand Lorenzo Rey a bit?

Yeah, I think that there is animosity there and there is tension between Magnus and Lorenzo and it’s not unwarranted. And that’s what’s great. Lorenzo’s not there as an aggressor just to be an aggressor. It is rooted in a history that is real between them and I think not only is it great to bring another color and more depth to the character of Magnus and flesh out the human being that Magnus is and has been.

The potential for growth for both of these characters is great throughout the season. And I feel like the arc that they are on is one that where they eventually find themselves is one [place] where they are going to need each other to get through it. And I think that’s really exciting.

As a fan of the show, I’ve always looked at Magnus as someone who is always so self-reliant and who is so strong and so noble. And so I think Lorenzo is going to be able to bring out other aspects of Magnus and shed some light on the fullness of that character that, as a fan of the show, I think are really wonderful.

I do warn fans, you are going to hate him, you are going to hate Lorenzo. He is not a good guy. But, he’s also charming too, and he’s not just evil. He’s not just another bad guy. It’s all rooted in a history. There’s purpose, there’s meaning. There is a reason.

So, I think that really gives Lorenzo that color so you’re not just hating him, but you’re also sympathetic a little bit. There’s an understanding there and I love that kind of character because no one is ever really just evil. I don’t think. I think there is so many colors and layers to him. I think if there is any warning to fans it’s be ready to love to hate him.

What in your experience sets season 3 apart from season 1 and 2?

I think it’s going to be the writing.

Ok, I’m only coming at this answer from the perspective of my character’s arc, because as a fan of the show I’ve tried to not read anything that I wasn’t involved in because I wanted also to watch the show as a fan and be surprised by things.

I’ve been in conversations with the other actors on set and been like, ‘No no no, don’t tell me! I don’t want to hear it, I’ll find out later.’ This is coming just from the perspective of the arc that Lorenzo has with Magnus, with Alec, and some of the other characters that the writing feels so… I feel like the show has gotten to the point where you can have these scenes that are going to be rich and drawn out and a little more character driven.

As a show you have to earn that I think they’ve earned it and it’s a mature season and I think it’s a rich season. As a fan, I’m excited to meet these other characters who are coming our way.

I think it’s going to be a thrilling season for them as a show and a thrilling season to be a part of it.

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For more on season 3, be sure to check out our interview with Katherine McNamara, who teases a ‘cold, cutting’ season ahead!

Tune in to Shadowhunters season 3, episode 2, “The Powers That Be,” Tuesday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Freeform to meet Lorenzo Rey.