Netflix announces the release date for Death by Lightning starring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen

Netflix (Image via Netflix
Netflix (Image via Netflix's official website)

Death by Lightning, Netflix's next historical drama miniseries, will premiere on November 6, 2025. Drawing inspiration from Candice Millard's Destiny of the Republic, it looks at President James A. Garfield's limited time, Charles J. Guiteau's assassination attempt, and the repercussions.

The series is mainly produced by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Bernie Caulfield. It primarily stars Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, and Betty Gilpin and was shot in Budapest.

According to Netflix, Death by Lightning, its newest limited series, will debut on November 6, 2025, starring Matthew Macfadyen as assassin Charles Guiteau and Michael Shannon as President James Garfield. The four-part drama explores the political unrest of nineteenth-century America, as well as Garfield's presidency and assassination.


More about Death by Lightning

According to Netflix, Death by Lightning is a limited series. It will majorly debut on November 6, 2025, and renowned actors Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen lead the cast of the four-part historical drama. This powerfully captures one of America's most turbulent and tragic eras.

The show aims to shed light on James A. Garfield's presidency and the shocking circumstances surrounding his assassination and the show and this is mainly based on Candice Millard's best-selling novel Destiny of the Republic, which chronicles Garfield's surprising rise to the presidency and his horrific execution by Charles Guiteau.

Guiteau is mainly portrayed by Macfadyen. His character is a man whose admiration for Garfield develops into an obsession and, ultimately, violence. The narrative examines issues of personal conflict, political ambition, and the brittleness of power in nineteenth-century America.

The cast is a talented collection of performers. These give the historical characters in the plot more depth, and Chester A. Arthur is the vice president. He would eventually be elected president and is portrayed by Nick Offerman.

Bradley Whitford plays James Blaine, Garfield's longtime friend and secretary of state, while Betty Gilpin plays first lady Lucretia Garfield and one of Garfield's most notable political opponents, Roscoe Conkling, is portrayed by Shea Whigham and by reprising their roles, Barry Shabaka Henley, Paula Malcomson, Tuppence Middleton, Laura Marcus, and Vondie Curtis-Hall add nuance. This is done to the depiction of this pivotal moment in American history.

Death by Lightning is directed by Matt Ross. It was developed by Mike Makowsky. Macfadyen and Shannon both contribute significantly to the project, and Shannon's career has been defined by dramatic and subtle performances in films such as Knives Out, The Shape of Water, and Revolutionary Road. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards. He has gained acclaim for his roles in George & Tammy and Boardwalk Empire on television.

Macfadyen, on the other hand, just won two Primetime Emmys. His portrayal of Guiteau provides a thorough image of a man who changed the course of American history. It is intended to enhance the show.

Death by Lightning is positioned to be one of Netflix's most anticipated releases of 2025. This is because of its blend of personal sorrow, political drama, and excellent performances, and November 6, 2025, is the worldwide launch date for the series.

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Edited by Sohini Biswas