‘Death by Lightning’ Netflix Period Drama: First Look at Garfield Assassination

Netflix has unveiled the first look at its upcoming period drama, Death By Lightning, slated for release in 2025.

The series, based on Candice Millard’s book, Destiny of the Republic, explores the tragic and brief presidency of James Garfield, played by Michael Shannon.

Plot Overview

The series chronicles Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau, set against his impactful yet short tenure as the 20th U.S. president.

Serving from March to September 1881, Garfield’s presidency is often overshadowed by his tragic end, but this drama aims to highlight his contributions and the events leading up to his assassination.

The Cast

• Michael Shannon stars as President James Garfield.
• Matthew Macfadyen portrays Charles Guiteau, the assassin.
• Nick Offerman plays Chester Arthur, Garfield’s vice president.
• Betty Gilpin steps into the role of Crete Garfield, the First Lady.

The cast also includes Laura Marcus, Alfie Tempest, Shea Whigham, and Bradley Whitford in key roles.

Behind the Scenes

The series is executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss through their production company Bighead, Littlehead, in collaboration with showrunner Mike Makowsky and director Matt Ross.

Stay tuned for more updates as Death By Lightning prepares to captivate audiences in 2025.