Death by Lightning": A Historical Drama on Netflix with Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen
Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen star in the Netflix historical series "Death by Lightning," which delves into the Presidency of James A. Garfield and his assassination by Charles J. Guiteau. The show features a star-studded cast, including Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham, and marks the seventh collaboration between Shannon and Macfadyen. The series also represents a partnership between Netflix and David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, known for their work on "Game of Thrones."
In an interview with ScreenRant, Shannon and Macfadyen discussed the show's timely parallels with real-world events, such as the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in 2024 and the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk. Macfadyen described the experience of working on the show in the midst of these events as "surreal" and "quite alarming," given the show's prescient themes.
Shannon echoed Macfadyen's sentiments, noting that viewers may recognize parallels between the show and the current political climate. He highlighted the coincidence of filming convention scenes while Biden was stepping aside during the Presidential election, which he described as a significant moment for the production team.
In a conversation with ScreenRant, Shannon reflected on a pivotal scene in the show where James is being willed into a nomination at the Republican National Convention. The interviewer asked Shannon if he had ever experienced a similar situation in his career where he was hesitant about a role but was encouraged by others to take it on.