Michael Shannon & Matthew Macfadyen to Star in Netflix Limited Series, 'Death by Lightning'

by Darian Scalamoni

    Netflix appears to be heading back into the prestige television space with this next project. Deadline reports that Michael Shannon (Knives Out) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) will star in the series, Death by Lightning, covering President Garfield's assassination.

    Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) will write the script for the series that will see Shannon portray former U.S. President James Garfield, the 20th in American history, who was assassinated by one of his greatest admirer's Charles Guiteau, who will be played in the series by Emmy winner Macfadyen, who ultimately was the one to kill Garfield. Additionally, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will exec produce the show, with Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic) set to direct the show from beginning to end. Death by Lightning will be adapting Candice Millard's book, Destiny of the Republic for the screen.

    Garfield had become the President, despite being disinclined to taking the powerful position in 1881 and was assassinated later that year. Garfield had previously served nine terms as a Congressman before being elected to the Presidency, with Guiteau being said to be a massive part of the reason in which Garfield's election in the first place. 

    Shannon has most recently appeared in two sequels of sorts: one for film and one for television. Waco: The Aftermath, a limited series that followed up on the Paramount Network series, Waco, as well as his return to the now-dead DCEU as General Zod in Andy Muschietti's The Flash. Shannon will next be seen reuniting with frequent collaborator Jeff Nichols in The Bikeriders. Shannon has the highly anticipated musical fantasy The End in the can opposite George MacKay and Tilda Swinton, and recently signed aboard another historical drama with Nuremberg alongside Russell Crowe and Rami Malek.

    Macfadyen just won his second Emmy award for his role as Tom Wambsgams in HBO's Succession. He'll next star in Deadpool 3 in an unknown role, as well as the thriller Holland, Michigan which he stars with Nicole Kidman and Gael Carcia Bernal.