Netflix’s Death By Lightning Became Surprisingly Timely For Its Cast

Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen initially sought to shed the spotlight on a turbulent point in American history with Death by Lightning, only for it to become surreal with its real-world connections. The Netflix historical series explores the short-lived Presidency of James A. Garfield, whose efforts to improve various government structures and establish civil rights for African Americans were cut short by his being assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau.

Shannon and Macfadyen lead the star-studded Death by Lightning cast as Garfield and Guiteau, while working alongside Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham, reuniting him with Shannon for their seventh project. The show also marks the latest collaboration between Netflix and Game of Thrones vets David Benioff and D.B. Weiss after their expansive 3 Body Problem adaptation.

In honor of the show’s premiere, ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley interviewed Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen to discuss Death by Lightning. The conversation turned to discussing the show’s timely parallels, particularly the attempted assassination attempts on President Donald Trump in 2024, as well as the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.

Macfadyen began by denoting it became “kind of surreal” working on the Netflix political title in the wake of these events, particularly given the first attempt on Trump came “bang in the middle of our shoot in the summer“. He also found it to be “quite alarming” to be part of something that is “so prescient and current“.

Matthew Macfadyen: Feels incredibly modern and sometimes I kind of feel anxious to, like Mike says, it’s not a dusty period piece. It feels really modern. It feels really… Human behavior doesn’t change, really.

Shannon concurred that there is much of Death by Lightning “that people will recognize in the current situation” of the country, also pointing out the parallels with “Biden stepping aside” during the Presidential election coinciding with the show “filming the convention scenes“, which gave the production team the feeling of “a huge wind at our backs“:

Michael Shannon: I just can’t imagine a more relevant story right now, which is so odd because this happened in the late 1800s and yet it feels [all too timely].

Michael Shannon Has Been Hesitant With Taking Some Of His Roles

ScreenRant: Michael, to talk to you specifically, one of the brilliant scenes of Death by Lightning is in that first episode when we have the Republican National Convention and everyone’s rallying around James, and he’s not even on the ticket yet, he is being willed into this nomination. To kind of flip it on you as an actor, has that ever happened with you for a role, something that you were kind of hesitant to take on, but either support from friends, family, fans, willed you into taking it?

Michael Shannon: So many times it would be hard to name them all in this brief interview. Yes, fairly constantly, yes. I’ve played Elvis, I’ve played George Jones, I’ve played a president, I’ve played a Mossad agent who had grown up in a concentration camp. All these times, people call up, and I say, “Are you sure? Sure it’s me that you’re looking for?” But it’s really thrilling actually, to get those opportunities that you thought you would never get. It’s kind of what keeps it interesting at the end of the day. But yeah, a lot of times I say I feel kind like Chauncey Gardiner from Being There. I show up and there’s Shirley MacLaine thinking that I’m all that, and I’m just this guy. But I guess that’s maybe a little falsely modest. I don’t know. But yes, I do.

Release Date

November 6, 2025

Network

Netflix

Directors

Matt Ross