Death by Lightning Cast
Netflix just dropped a new historical drama that people are talking about. Death by Lightning premiered on November 6, 2025, and tells the story of President James Garfield and the man who killed him.
The four-part miniseries comes from creator Mike Makowsky and pulls from Candice Millard's book Destiny of the Republic. It plays out like a 19th-century version of The West Wing, mixing political intrigue with real American history.
The Main Players
Michael Shannon takes on the role of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. president. Garfield started as a preacher, lawyer, and Civil War general before making his way to the White House. Shannon brings his experience from films like Man of Steel, Take Shelter, and Knives Out to the part.
Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles Guiteau, the man who shot Garfield. Macfadyen called him an ambitious politician who ended up committing the assassination. You might know him from Succession, Pride & Prejudice, or Deadpool & Wolverine.
Betty Gilpin appears as Lucretia Garfield, the president's wife. Nick Offerman plays Vice President Chester Arthur, who becomes the 21st president after Garfield's death. The show actually works as an origin story for Arthur, showing how he went on to reform civil service and end the spoils system.
Supporting Cast Members
Bradley Whitford portrays James Blaine. Shea Whigham takes on Roscoe Conkling, a powerful New York senator who controlled politics during the Gilded Age. Whigham worked with Shannon before on Boardwalk Empire.
Richard Rankin appears as Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor who tried to save Garfield's life after the shooting. Other cast members include Vondie Curtis-Hall as Frederick Douglass, Kyle Soller as Robert Todd Lincoln, and Željko Ivanek as Doctor Willard Bliss.
Critics are loving it. The show has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 48 reviews. Metacritic gave it an 81 out of 100, which means universal acclaim.
Reviewers specifically praised Shannon and Macfadyen's performances. Richard Roeper gave it 3.5 stars out of 4, calling out how the series remembers Garfield as a decent man while showing Guiteau as a broken soul.
The show explores political disillusionment while working as a character drama that's both timely and engaging. All four episodes are streaming on Netflix now.
Disclaimer:
Death by Lightning is a historical drama based on real events, inspired by Candice Millard's book Destiny of the Republic. While the show stays true to historical facts, some characters and events have been dramatized for storytelling purposes. The opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views of Netflix or its creators.
