Game of Thrones Star Daniel Ings Once Played a Forgotten Marvel Character—Did You Catch Him?

If you've been binging HBO's new A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and spotted a familiar face, you're not alone. Daniel Ings, the guy now rocking armor as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, has a surprisingly eclectic resume. Yes, that was him in Sex Education, The Gentlemen, and The Crown—but, brace yourself, he also managed to pop up in one of the MCU's less-memorable outings: The Marvels. Don't remember? That's honestly pretty understandable—his role was small but, for real Marvel nerds, not actually as minor as it looks on paper.

A Kree State of Mind: Daniel Ings in The Marvels

Before diving into Westeros, Ings took an intergalactic detour in The Marvels. He played Ty-Rone, a Kree scientist and the right-hand man to Dar-Benn (that's the main villain played by Zawe Ashton, for anyone who blacked out during the plot). If you're struggling to recall what Ty-Rone did, here's the deal:

• Ings' Ty-Rone is an original MCU character—you won't find him buried in comic lore.
• He helps Dar-Benn track down those Quantum Bands (the fancy MacGuffin wristbands at the heart of the movie).
• Ty-Rone isn't just there for exposition—he actually kicks off and participates in a few pivotal sequences: the Quantum Band testing scene, the whole atmospheric restoration ceremony debacle, and reporting on combat damage to the villain crew.
• Ings is in full Kree makeup, prosthetics, head-to-toe blue, the whole nine yards. No, you probably wouldn't recognize him unless someone told you.

Is Ty-Rone a major character? Absolutely not. But he does feel a smidge more developed than your standard henchman, and Ings sneaks in enough deadpan delivery to stand out—if you were still paying attention, which by the third act, I know, is a big ask. Still, for completists, he's worth a rewatch.

From Bit Parts to Baratheon: Ings Leaps to HBO Prestige

Here's where things get interesting: Ings has jumped from being a blue-skinned middle-manager in a Marvel movie no one quite loved to holding court as Ser Lyonel Baratheon in one of HBO's biggest new fantasy bets. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is basically the TV equivalent of a knighthood for any British actor. For quick context:

• Title: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Created by: George R.R. Martin & Ira Parker
• Network: HBO
• Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure
• Setting: Westeros, about 90 years before the original Game of Thrones, during the Targaryen dynasty
• Premiere: 2026 – present
• Season 1: 6 episodes

Lyonel Baratheon, for the uninitiated, is the charismatic, occasionally hard-partying heir to Storm's End. He's a fan-favorite from George R.R. Martin's stories, and Ings goes big with the role. Critics have already called out his performance in the premiere, The Hedge Knight, as—get this—a genuine scene-stealer. Not something people say about bit players in the MCU.

If HBO is already ordering a second season, you know they're happy. That means a lot more of Ings' Lyonel—and, given the character's history with Dunk, expect plenty of questionable decisions and drama to come.

Roger Ebert's site summed it up best (yes,really): "HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the best fantasy adaptation of the decade."

So, whether you caught him back when he was playing a blue alien in a not-so-great Marvel movie, or you're just meeting him as the life of Westeros' prequel party, Daniel Ings seems destined for bigger things. For example: he's got Star Wars: Starfighter and legal drama Prima Facie up next—so odds are, you'll be seeing his face everywhere for a while (facepaint or not).

Where to Watch:

The Marvels is streaming on Disney+ in the US. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max.

So, what's your take on Daniel Ings' glow-up? Did you spot him in the MCU? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.