After dabbling in political and science fiction fantasy, Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are back with another drama, drawing from American history.
Death by Lightning will chronicle the brief presidency of James Garfield, to be played by Michael Shannon (Man of Steel, Revolutionary Road), cut short by his assassin Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Deadpool and Wolverine).
While the Netflix series has no release date yet, ProductionList.com marks the beginning of filming on July 1, 2024, in Budapest, Hungary. Betty Gilpin (Glow) will join Shannon and Macfadyen as First Lady Crete Garfield, Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) as Vice President Chester Arthur, and Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Secretary of State James Blaine.
Unlike in Game of Thrones and 3 Body Problem, where the two had more direct involvement as writers and showrunners (even directors for some episodes of GoT), Benioff and Weiss will serve as executive producers in Death by Lightning, together with collaborator Bernie Caulfield. Matt Ross of Captain Fantastic and Gaslit fame is set to direct all episodes, while Mike Makowsky (Bad Education) is credited as the show’s creator.
The series is an adaptation of the acclaimed 2011 nonfiction Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, authored by Candice Millard.
Related: 3 Body Problem: Netflix to Produce New Episodes After Tragic Season 1 Ending
Who is James Garfield, the subject of Death by Lightning?
Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving for over six months, from March 4 until his death on September 19, 1881. His tenure was cut short by an infection that developed while being treated for gunshot wounds sustained after an assassination attempt by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled supporter and office seeker.
Before his term, Garfield had been involved in politics for almost two decades and served in the Army during the Civil War. He was known for his work towards equal civil rights and education.
Watch this space for more news on Death by Lightning!
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