Not all history is created equal. Some of it bleeds, burns, and begs for a spotlight. Netflix is cracking open the vault on a true story so wild it sounds fictional. Think power-hungry politics, divine delusions, and a president who never saw it coming. This is 1880s Washington like you have never seen it. Death by Lightning
is charging up to become the most shocking period drama of the year.
While most period dramas unfold with polite tea and politics, this one erupts with ego, chaos, and a deadly prophecy. Here is everything you need to know about Death by Lightning.
Star power strikes: a dynamite cast that commands attention
History class just got the Oscar treatment. Michael Shannon
steps into the Oval Office as
President James Garfield
, bringing presidential presence and haunted stoicism. On the flip side of sanity, Matthew Macfadyen unspools Charles Guiteau’s
madness with unnerving flair. Betty Gilpin’s Lucretia Garfield
anchors the White House with dignity, while Nick Offerman as VP Chester Arthur
raises eyebrows in all the best ways. Sprinkle in Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham? Call it a masterclass in casting.
In Death by Lightning, Michael Shannon plays James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, and Matthew Macfadyen plays the man who would come to kill him.
Here’s your first look at this epic, stranger than fiction true story also starring Nick Offerman and Betty… pic.twitter.com/VDrT5u3dq9
— Netflix (@netflix) January 30, 2025
While the cast reads like an Emmy nomination list, the true firepower lies in the storyline as a delusional prophecy, a fatal bullet, and a fractured nation all collide in stunning fashion.
Obsession, power and a bullet: the plot that changed history
In a tale stranger than fiction, Death by Lightning
dramatizes James Garfield’s journey from college professor to commander-in-chief, only to face a delusional assassin who claimed divine instructions.
The bullet was just the beginning. The aftermath spins into chaos: rival political factions, outdated medicine, and a reluctant VP stumbling into the presidency. Based on Candice Millard’s gripping book
, this series revives one of America’s most overlooked political tragedies with the energy of a Shakespearean epic.
Oh my sweet heavenly days. I was already excited when Netflix announced that they were doing a limited series on President James Garfield (entitled “Death by Lightning”) but I just found out that Ron Swanson is going to be playing Chester Arthur. Now my excitement is at 11. pic.twitter.com/1bEOKXEp2y
— The History Underground (@history_under) January 31, 2025
As
James
Garfield’s fate hung by surgical threads, Netflix sharpens the scalpel, next comes the release date, and the storm is already brewing.
Lightning strikes this summer: when and where to watch
Filmed in Budapest with candlelit gravitas and corsets aplenty, Death by Lightning
wrapped production in late 2024 and will debut in 2025
as the latest gem in Netflix’s treasure trove
of prestige dramas. While the release date remains under wraps,
first-look images have already sparked awards buzz.
With Mike Makowsky and Matt Ross
steering the ship, this electrified limited series promises shock, spectacle, and a slow-burn intensity that hits hard.
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What are your thoughts on Netflix’s gamble with a lesser-known presidential tale, told with such thunderous talent and flair? Let us know in the comments below.