James A. Garfield and His Assassin Highlighted in ‘Death by Lightning’
Mike Makowsky dedicated several months to securing government permission to access authentic materials, which explains why his latest Netflix limited series, Death by Lightning, opens with a detailed re-enactment of Charles J. Guiteau’s shooting of President James A. Garfield.
This four-part series explores the intertwined narratives of James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, and Guiteau, the assassin who abruptly ended Garfield’s presidency in 1881. Garfield's residence in Mentor is preserved today as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, under the management of the National Park Service.
Cast and Source Material
- Michael Shannon portrays the principled President Garfield.
- Matthew Macfadyen plays the disturbed Guiteau.
- The series is adapted from Candice Millard’s acclaimed 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
“Mike Makowsky had spent months working on obtaining permission from the government to see the real thing, so perhaps it’s not all that surprising that the new Netflix limited series he’s created, ‘Death by Lightning,’ begins with a re-creation of Charles J.”
The series sheds light on a pivotal moment in American history through a compelling dramatization of the lives of both the president and his assassin.
Author’s summary: The Netflix series Death by Lightning vividly retells the tragic story of President Garfield’s assassination, exploring the characters and events that shaped this historic episode.