Sometimes the best Westeros stories are the ones that never happened. Before Daniel Ings won fans over as Lyonel Baratheon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he was in the running for a very different part in Game of Thrones. As it turns out, Ings once auditioned for Theon Greyjoy, but after finally watching the series, he came away convinced HBO made the right call by choosing Alfie Allen instead.
Quick read:
- Daniel Ings auditioned for Theon Greyjoy.
- He believes Alfie Allen was perfect.
- Ings now plays Lyonel Baratheon.
Theon Greyjoy was a role Daniel Ings never stopped thinking about
For fans of Theon Greyjoy, it’s difficult to imagine anyone but Alfie Allen bringing the character’s painful journey to life. Apparently, Daniel Ings feels exactly the same way.
Speaking to Radio Times, the actor reflected on missing out on roles in the original series and admitted that hindsight has only reinforced why those casting choices worked.
“If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you end up doing the roles you’re meant to do. I had auditioned for a couple of roles in the show and now, having seen it, there’s no world in which I was right for those parts. I would have been s**t! And Alfie Allen was incredible. As a fan of the original show, I can’t imagine anyone else playing Theon. If I had made Game of Thrones, I wouldn’t have given it to me.”
It’s the kind of brutally honest self-assessment fans rarely hear from actors. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, Ings openly celebrated Allen’s performance, one that remains one of the most acclaimed character arcs in the franchise.
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Missing one Westeros role led him to the perfect one
The irony is that Ings eventually found his place in George R.R. Martin’s world anyway. Years after auditioning for major roles in Game of Thrones, he joined A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as the larger-than-life Lyonel Baratheon, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
His performance has brought humor, energy, and unpredictability to the prequel series, qualities that feel tailor-made for the character. Looking back, it’s hard not to agree with his point about actors finding the roles they’re meant to play.
Fans often wonder what certain casting alternatives might have looked like, but some choices simply feel destined. Theon Greyjoy belongs to Alfie Allen. Lyonel Baratheon belongs to Daniel Ings. And thanks to Westeros continuing to expand on television, viewers ended up getting both performances instead of having to choose between them.
Read next: Daniel Ings says he would “love to” return as Lyonel Baratheon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
