Simon Kassianides on his rewarding return to The Mandalorian

With support from newfound allies in the clan to which Din Djarin belongs, Bo-Katan Kryze sets about reclaiming Mandalore and uniting its factions in the third season of The Mandalorian.

But to rebuild their home world, she must reconnect with, and restore faith in, her old followers.

Fortunately for fans of Bo-Katan’s (Katee Sackhoff) elite Nite Owl squad – who made their first appearance in season two with a timely rescue of Din (Pedro Pascal) and his ward, Grogu – hope returns with the re-entry of warrior Axe Woves (Simon Kassianides) to the franchise.

“The reason I’m back is a dream come true,” Simon, 43, tells TV WEEK.

“It’s clear that Axe has been busy with the Mandalorians who have become mercenaries, and I’m in charge of the mercenaries. We’ve totally broken off, and we get paid for jobs and we go off. Bo comes to find me and the Army to convince us to join forces.”

For Simon, putting the Mandalorian helmet back on was a treat, after years in roles such as fixer Nick D’Amato in legal dramas Suits and Pearson, and HYDRA operative Sunil Bakshi in Marvel series Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

“I didn’t want to get typecast as the suit-wearing English bad guy,” he says. “I put a hard reverse on the trajectory of where I was going and spent two to three years trying to redirect my career towards more action-based work, hopefully bringing some of the drama to roles like that, which I found with Axe.”

It’s an exciting time for Simon, who is speaking to TV WEEK over Zoom from the south of France, where he’s looking for a home and planning for his June wedding to partner Julia Westman.

“I’m involved with Warner Bros in Europe at the moment, writing and executive-producing roles I’ll either star in or direct,” he explains.

“One’s a spy thriller set in Stockholm, another is a vampire idea set in Europe. I’m always, always motivated by story.”

While being in a Star Wars production is a dream come true for Simon, he admits he’s still adjusting to seeing himself as an Axe Woves action figure.

“It’s surreal, and there is a remove,” he says.

“I always hope to start from a place of gratitude when I see something like that. It means so much to me from my own memories, because I grew up playing with my brother’s Star Wars figures.”

Ah, but does his brother, nine years his senior, still play with those figurines?

“He does!” Simon says with a laugh. “He’s created an Axe Woves Instagram account and posts the figure in hilarious scenarios, which I recommend everyone follow instead of following me!”

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