Death by Lightning is an American historical drama miniseries created by Mike Makowsky and based on the 2011 book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. It stars Michael Shannon as United States President James A. Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as his assassin Charles J. Guiteau. The four-episode series premiered on November 6, 2025, on Netflix. It received widespread acclaim from critics, with particular praise for the performances, and was named one of the best television programs of the year by the American Film Institute.
Premise The series depicts the election and presidency of James A. Garfield, the 20th United States President, including his anti-corruption and pro-civil rights stances, as well as how his path crossed with Charles J. Guiteau, a deluded admirer, who ended up shooting him, leading to Garfield's death.
Cast and characters
Main
Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield Matthew Macfadyen as Charles J. Guiteau Betty Gilpin as Lucretia Garfield Shea Whigham as Roscoe Conkling Bradley Whitford as James G. Blaine Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur
Supporting
Paula Malcomson as Franny Scoville Alistair Petrie as John Sherman Ben Miles as George Scoville Laura Marcus as Mollie Garfield Archie Fisher as Joe Brown Stuart Milligan as George F. Hoar David Nykl as Levi Morton Richard Rycroft as Spurlock Michael Carter as James Joy Dominic Applewhite as W.A.M. Grier Andrew Hefler as Tom Platt Daniel Gosling as John Foster Vondie Curtis-Hall as Frederick Douglass Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague Bronagh Waugh as Myrna Barry Shabaka Henley as Blanche Bruce Nicholas Woodeson as Charles D.A. Loeffler Christine Grace Szarko as Susan Ann Edson Daniel Betts as John Humphrey Noyes Željko Ivanek as Doctor Willard Bliss Shaun Parkes as Dr. Charles Purvis Kyle Soller as Robert Todd Lincoln Richard Rankin as Alexander Graham Bell Alfie Tempest as Irvin Garfield
Episodes
Production Development The series was announced in February 2024, with Michael Shannon cast to play Garfield, and Matthew Macfadyen to play Guiteau. Shannon was keen to play Garfield as he himself did not know anything about the man. Macfadyen compared his interpretation of Guiteau to the Pixar villain Syndrome. Matt Ross was set to direct all episodes of the series. Later that month, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin joined the cast, as Chester A. Arthur and Lucretia Garfield, respectively. In May, Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham were added, with Stephen McKinley Henderson, Paula Malcomson and Tuppence Middleton joining in recurring roles. Laura Marcus was added in July. In October, additional castings were announced, including Barry Shabaka Henley (replacing McKinley Henderson in his role), Vondie Curtis-Hall and Željko Ivanek.
Filming began in Budapest on July 1, 2024, and wrapped in October of the same year.
Music It was announced in October 2025 that composer Ramin Djawadi would be scoring the series.
Release Death by Lightning premiered on November 6, 2025, on Netflix.
Reception Critical response On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 69 critics' reviews are positive. The website's critics consensus reads: "Handsomely mounted and electrified by Matthew Macfadyen's masterclass in slimy desperation, Death by Lightning concisely dramatizes a fork in history while wistfully hinting at what could've been." On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Shannon and Macfadyen's portrayals of Garfield and Guiteau were singled out for praise. Richard Roeper's review at RogerEbert.com gave the series 3.5 stars out of 4, praising its boldness and writing that it "remembers Garfield as a decent man [and] Guiteau as one in a long line of broken and twisted souls."
The American Film Institute named it one of the ten best television programs of the year.
Accolades Award Category Recipient(s) Result American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Limited Series Joseph Krings, Anna Hauger, Michael Ruscio, and Joe Leonard Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Television Movie or Limited Series Gemma Jackson Critics' Choice Awards Best Limited Series Death by Lightning Best Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television Michael Shannon Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television Nick Offerman Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television Betty Gilpin Gotham TV Awards Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Mike Makowsky, David Benioff, Bernadette Caulfield, D. B. Weiss, and Matt Ross Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series Matthew Macfadyen Michael Shannon Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series Nick Offerman Peabody Awards Entertainment Death by Lightning Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Nick Offerman Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Mike Makowsky Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Adriano Goldman Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Joseph Krings, Anna Hauger, Michael Ruscio, Joe Leonard, Bridget Case, and Derek Desmond TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, or Specials Death by Lightning USC Scripter Awards Best Adapted Screenplay – Television Mike Makowsky Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode Rainer Gombos, Steve Kullback, Marko Ljubez, and David Ramos Writers Guild of America Awards Best Limited Series Mike Makowsky
Notes
See also Murder of a President, 2016 episode of season 28 of the PBS documentary series American Experience, centered on Garfield and his assassination.
References
External links