We finally know when Death by Lightning, Netflix‘s new depiction of the strangest Presidential assassination in American history, will strike. The historical drama miniseries starring Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water) as President James A. Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) as his killer, Charles Guiteau, will premiere on November 6. The streamer also unveiled the first poster for the series.
The poster features a stylized rendition of the July 2, 1881, assassination of Garfield at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, DC. The pistol-wielding Guiteau lurks behind the stripes of the American flag, leveling his weapon at the unsuspecting Garfield. Garfield, meanwhile, as the title implies, has been “struck by lightning” as the flag’s stripes contort and bend to hit him like a bolt from the blue. The poster’s stylings and typeface hearken back to the Gilded Age time period of its setting, and promise a new look at an obscure but fascinating chapter of American history. In accordance with standard Netflix procedure, the entire series will drop on November 6.
What Is ‘Death by Lightning’ About?
The series centers around the life and death of James A. Garfield (Shannon), a Republican from Ohio who was elected to the Presidency in 1880 on a platform of fighting corruption and reforming the civil service. However, failed lawyer Charles Guiteau (Macfadyen) delusionally believed he had been instrumental in Garfield’s victory and hadn’t been sufficiently rewarded for it. He shot Garfield in 1881; Garfield died weeks later, his wound having been infected by the archaic medical treatments of the era.
As Guiteau said at his trial, “The doctors killed Garfield. I just shot him.” Garfield’s Vice President, Chester Arthur (Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation), assumed the Presidency, and continued Garfield’s work. Guiteau, meanwhile, despite a convincing attempt at an insanity plea, was found guilty and hanged. The series also stars Betty Gilpin (GLOW) as Garfield’s wife, Lucretia, Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) as Secretary of State James Blaine, and Shea Whigham (F1) as powerful congressman Roscoe Conkling.
Death by Lightning was created, written, and executive produced by Mike Makowsky (Bad Education). It is executive produced by Game of Thrones‘ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and 3 Body Problem‘s Bernie Caulfield. The series is an adaptation of the 2011 non-fiction book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard.
Death by Lightning will premiere on Netflix on November 6, 2025.
via Collider