Netflix has unveiled the full cast for Death by Lightning. The upcoming limited series will explore the “epic and stranger-than-fiction” story of the 20th president of the United States, James Garfield, and his assassination at the hands of his greatest admirer, Charles Guiteau.
Death by Lightning, which has already wrapped production in Budapest, Hungary, hails from creator, writer, and executive producer Mike Makowsky (Bad Education). It is based on Candice Millard’s novel, titled “Destiny of the Republic.”
Who’s in the Death by Lightning cast?
Set to debut sometime in 2025, the limited series will feature the likes of Archie Fisher (Last Days of John Allen Chau) as Joe Brown, Barry Shabaka Henley (Bob Hearts Abishola) as Senator Blanche Bruce, Željko Ivanek (Walking Dead: Dead City) as Dr. Bliss, Kyle Soller (Andor) as Robert Todd Lincoln, Ben Miles (The Crown) as George Scoville, Vondie Curtis Hall (Harriet) as Frederick Douglass, Shaun Parkes (Small Axe: Mangrove) as Dr. Charles Purvis, and Alistair Petrie (The Night Manager) as John Sherman.
Previously announced cast members include Betty Gilpin (Glow) as Crete Garfield, Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) as Charles Guiteau, Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) as Chester Arthur, Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) as James Garfield, Laura Marcus (The Serpent Queen) as Mollie Garfield, Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Secretary of State James Blaine, Shea Whigham (Joker) as Senator Roscoe Conkling, Paula Malcomson (Deadwood) as Franny Scoville, and Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey) as Kate Chase Sprague.
Stephen Mckinley Henderson was initially cast as Senator Blanche Bruce. However, due to a scheduling conflict, the role was later given to Henley.
Executive producers are David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (3 Body Problem, Game of Thrones) and Bernie Caulfield (Big Love). Meanwhile, Matt Ross (28 Hotel Rooms) serves as the director and executive producer of all episodes.
No release date has been set yet for Death by Lightning, but it is anticipated to arrive in 2025.