Death by Lightning

{{Infobox television

| image =

| creator = Mike Makowsky

| based_on = {{Based on|Destiny of the Republic|Candice Millard}}

| writer =

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Matt Ross

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Mike Makowsky
David Benioff
D. B. Weiss
Bernie Caulfield
Matt Ross

}}

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime =

| company = Bighead Littlehead Productions
Slater Hall

| budget =

| network = Netflix

| first_aired =

| last_aired =

}}

Death By Lightning is an upcoming American historical drama miniseries created by Mike Makowsky, based on the 2011 non-fiction book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard.

Premise

Depicts the presidency of James A. Garfield, leading up to his assassination by Charles J. Guiteau, who had been an admirer of his.

Cast

=Main=

=Recurring=

Barry Shabaka Henley as Blanche Bruce
Paula Malcomson as Franny Scoville
Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague
Laura Marcus as Mollie Garfield
Vondie Curtis-Hall as Frederick Douglass
Željko Ivanek as Doctor Willard Bliss
Archie Fisher as Joe Brown
Kyle Soller as Robert Todd Lincoln
Ben Miles as George Scoville
Shaun Parkes as Dr. Charles Purvis
Alistair Petrie as John Sherman

Production

The series was announced in February 2024, with Michael Shannon cast to play Garfield, and Matthew Macfadyen as the assassin Guiteau. Matt Ross was set to direct all episodes of the series.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=Michael Shannon & Matthew Macfadyen To Star In President Garfield Assassination Series Death By Lightning For Netflix |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/michael-shannon-matthew-macfadyen-death-by-lightning-netflix-1235810651/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 1, 2024 |date=February 1, 2024}} Later that month, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin joined the cast, as Chester A. Arthur and Lucretia Garfield respectively.{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin Join Netflix's President Garfield Assassination Series 'Death by Lightning' |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/nick-offerman-betty-gilpin-netflix-president-garfield-assassination-series-death-by-lightning-1235925784/ |website=Variety |access-date=February 28, 2024 |date=February 28, 2024}} In May, Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham were added, with Stephen McKinley Henderson, Paula Malcolmson and Tuppence Middleton joining in recurring capacities.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Bradley Whitford & Shea Whigham Join Netflix's Death By Lightning, 3 Others Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/bradley-whitford-shea-whigham-death-by-lightning-netflix-cast-1235938034/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=May 24, 2024 |date=May 24, 2024}} Laura Marcus would be added in July.{{cite web |last1=Goldbart |first1=Max |title=Netflix Finds Its President Garfield's Daughter For Death By Lightning Series Starring Michael Shannon As 20th POTUS |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/death-by-lightning-netflix-laura-marcus-1236014092/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 2, 2024 |date=July 19, 2024}} In October, additional castings were announced, including Barry Shabaka Henley (replacing McKinley Henderson in his role), Vondie Curtis-Hall and Željko Ivanek.{{cite web |last1=Campione |first1=Katie |title=Death By Lightning: Vondie Curtis Hall, Željko Ivanek & Barry Shabaka Henley Among 8 To Join Netflix Limited Series |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/death-by-lightning-cast-netflix-vondie-curtis-hall-zeljko-ivanek-barry-shabaka-henley-1236113706/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 11, 2024 |date=October 11, 2024}}

Filming began in Budapest on July 1, 2024,{{cite web |title=Death by Lightning – Budapest Sets Stage for Netflix's Presidential Drama |url=https://www.budapestreporter.com/death-by-lightning-budapest-sets-stage-for-netflixs-presidential-drama/ |website=Budapest Reporter |access-date=April 21, 2024 |date=April 4, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://productionlist.com/production/death-by-lightning/|title=Death by Lightning|website= Film & Television Industry Alliance|access-date=October 14, 2024}} and wrapped in October of the same year.