'Game of Thrones' makers return with Netflix limited series 'Death by Lightning'

Michael Shannon plays the 20th US president, James Garfield, in Death by Lightning, a new Netflix limited series that lands on November 6. 

Created by Mike Makowsky, it has David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones, 3 Body Problem) as executive producers. Matt Ross is handling directing duties.

Based on Candice Millard’s book “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President”, the series explores the unusual life and death of the historical figure.

In an official Netflix statement, Makowsky said he felt thrilled to “bring James Garfield and his cohort back from the annals of long-forgotten history. Six years into working on this project, it’s a story I still can’t believe is true — in all its wild, tragic glory — and it somehow feels even more relevant to our world today than ever before. I can’t wait for us to be able to finally share it.”

Shannon is joined by Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman, and Shea Whigham. 

As per the official logline, Death by Lightning is a "limited drama series that’s based on the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and Charles Guiteau — a man who was not only Garfield’s greatest admirer but also his assassin."

Makowsky says he chose to tell this story due to its topical quality. “The theme of corruption in politics and our bureaucracy feels particularly evergreen these days. The idea of civil service reform and waging a battle to clean up the grift in our government — this is something that Garfield very much stood on the front lines of in his time,” he shares. “In 1881, it feels like America is sort of standing at a crossroads between the past and what the future of this country is going to look like, and it’s up to [people like Garfield] to really define how America, 100 years after its inception, is going to look and what kind of society they’re going to be.”

Entertainment