12 Game of Thrones stars who’ve also played superheroes (or villains)

6. Ed Skrein (Deadpool)

Although a few attentive fans knew it was coming, one of the more jarring moments in Game of Thrones history came when Ed Skrein, who played the charming sellsword Daario Naharis in season 3, was switched out for Michiel Huisman. While Huisman brings his own flavor to the character, it was hard to forget Skrein. I mean, were we expected to think these two look at all alike?

According to Skrein, it wasn’t other work that took him away from Game of Thrones, but rather politics. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said that he had initially planned to stay with the show “for the long haul.”

Well, c’est la vie. Skrein is still an up-and-comer and you can catch him in plenty of other popular media. He’s got a short onscreen resume, but what he has counts, in no small part due to his turn as the villainous Ajax in Deadpool. Or, if you’re feeling naughty, his turn as “Francis.”

Deadpool was an instant hit with superhero fans. Ryan Reynolds was born to play the Merc with a Mouth, and Skrein worked wonderfully as a more straight-laced, villainous foil, as taciturn and sadistic as Deadpool was playful and funny. I’m willing to forgive whatever politics went down between Skrein and HBO thanks to his performance in this movie.