Would Daniel Ings Return to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
When A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 landed on HBO Max earlier this year, few characters left a mark quite like Ser Lyonel Baratheon, The Laughing Storm. Daniel Ings took what was a minor figure in George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas and turned him into one of the show’s most magnetic presences. His charm was so effortless that fans immediately started asking the obvious question: will he be back?
The short answer is complicated. Lyonel never appears in any Dunk and Egg story after “The Hedge Knight,” the novella that formed the backbone of season 1. But HBO’s A Song of Ice and Fire adaptations have a well-earned reputation for wandering off the page which leaves the door cracked open. Ings himself recently addressed the question directly, and his answer offers more than a simple yes or no. It hints at where this newest Game of Thrones spinoff might be headed.
Let’s break down what he said, what it means for the show’s future, and whether we’ll ever witness the Laughing Storm’s most famous moment on screen.
Will the Laughing Storm Strike Again?
In a recent Daniel Ings interview with Radio Times one focused mostly on his role in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen series the actor was asked whether he’d return as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, The Laughing Storm. His response was warm, if noncommittal:
“Oh, man, I’d love to! Unfortunately, he’s not in any more of the stories that George R.R. Martin has written so far, and our showrunner, Ira Parker, is sticking closely to those. There is a famous duel in the future. Maybe I’ll be 60 by that time! Whatever happens, I’d love to put in Lyonel’s little dangly earring again because he’s such a fun character.”
There’s no promise buried in there, but there’s plenty of enthusiasm. Ings clearly had a blast playing the role, something any viewer could sense while watching him command the screen. That energy, paired with his status as a breakout fan favorite, is exactly the kind of thing that keeps a character alive in the minds of showrunners.
For now, though, Ings does not appear to be slated for any upcoming season. His desire to return is real, but a confirmed comeback simply isn’t on the table yet.
The Future of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Read Ings’ quote closely and it reveals a few telling clues about how the series intends to move forward.
The first is fidelity. Ings confirms that showrunner Ira Parker plans to stick as closely to Martin’s source material as possible. Season 1 largely honored that promise. “The Hedge Knight” was adapted faithfully, though the show did make a handful of choices worth noting the addition of Lady Rowan (Rowan Robinson) and the twist of Egg becoming Dunk’s squire without the knowledge of his father, Prince Maekar (Sam Spruell), among them.
That restraint feels significant. Game of Thrones famously outran its source books and had to invent its final seasons whole cloth.
House of the Dragon has tweaked and reshaped its material at nearly every turn. Against that backdrop, a Westeros show committed to staying loyal to the page is refreshing and if Ings is right, that faithful approach is here to stay.
Then there’s a smaller, sneakier detail. Ings describes Martin’s published Dunk and Egg novellas as the stories written “so far.” That phrasing does a lot of quiet work. If Parker means to remain faithful to the books, and he’s already adapted roughly a third of them, then Martin will eventually need to publish more novellas for the show to continue. Fans of George R.R. Martin have a long history of dissecting every interview, quote, and blog post for hints about future releases. Whether Ings meant anything by it or not, “so far” is the kind of word that sets speculation running.
Lyonel Baratheon’s Famous Duel and Rebellion
The most intriguing thread in Ings’ answer is the “famous duel” he mentions later in Lyonel’s life. This is where things get interesting for anyone thinking long-term about the series.
The reference is to the clash between Lyonel and Dunk. Years down the line, Egg’s eldest son and heir, Prince Duncan Targaryen, breaks his betrothal to Lyonel’s daughter. The Laughing Storm, feeling his house’s honor has been insulted, launches a rebellion. That uprising ends when Lyonel yields to Dunk in a trial by battle the very duel Ings is teasing.
Here’s the catch: Lyonel’s Rebellion takes place well after the bulk of the Dunk and Egg adventures. By then, Egg sits on the Iron Throne and Lyonel himself is a much older man. Which explains Ings’ half-joking line about being 60 by the time it happens. If A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms runs long enough to reach that chapter, a much older Laughing Storm could stride back into frame for one last, legendary showdown. It’s a distant possibility but a tantalizing one.
The Verdict on Lyonel’s Return
So, would Daniel Ings return to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? He clearly wants to, earring and all. Yet the reality is bound by the books: Lyonel simply isn’t in the immediate road ahead, and Ira Parker’s commitment to Martin’s text means no shortcuts back. The Laughing Storm’s best shot at a comeback lies far in the future, tied to a rebellion and a duel that would require both a much older actor and a much longer-running series.
For fans, that’s not a “no it’s a “maybe, someday.” And in Westeros, patience is practically a survival skill. Until then, the best way to enjoy Ings’ magnetic turn as Ser Lyonel Baratheon is to revisit the source: stream A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 on HBO Max and watch the Laughing Storm at his charming, unforgettable best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Lyonel Baratheon be in Season 2?
Ser Lyonel Baratheon’s return in Season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has not been confirmed, and it is unlikely based on the original book series.
Did Lyonel Baratheon like Prince Duncan?
Lyonel Baratheon did not like Prince Duncan after the prince broke off his betrothal to Lyonel’s daughter.
What is Lyonel Baratheon to Robert?
Lyonel Baratheon is the great-grandfather (or potentially great-great-grandfather) of Robert Baratheon.
Why did Dunk not go with Lyonel?
Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) did not go with Ser Lyonel Baratheon to Storm’s End because he wanted to chart his own path as a true hedge knight rather than become entangled in the hedonistic, glory-seeking lifestyle of high lords.
