Netflix announces new trailer for star-studded period drama with Pride and Prejudice icon
Netflix has released an exciting new trailer for their upcoming period drama set in the 19th century.
Netflix has announced the brand new trailer for an upcoming historical drama about the famous assassination of President James Garfield. The new limited series, which arrives on Netflix this Autumn, boasts a star-studded cast led by Hollywood legend Michael Shannon.
In the trailer for new series Death by Lightning, viewers get a first look at Shannon as the President on Death’s Door.
Meanwhile, Matthew Macfadyen of Succession and Pride and Prejudice fame co-stars as Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated President Garfield.
Other cast members include American Primeval’s Betty Gilpin, The Last of Us actor Nick Offerman and Downton Abbey’s Tuppence Middleton.
Who was President Garfield?
Garfield was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 1881 until his death in September that year.
The former Civil War general previously served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives and holds the record for being the only sitting member of the House to be elected president.
The new Netflix series tells the story of his tragically brief presidency, which Garfield preempted two weeks into office with the words: “Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning.”
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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
What is Netflix’s Death by Lightning about?
Death by Lightning has been described by Netflix as both comedic and tragic, with Tudum noting: “Guiteau’s delusions of grandeur would come to have a seismic impact on America’s cultural fabric, but before he was an assassin, he was a nuisance.”
The drama based on the epic stranger-than-fiction true story covers reluctant 20th president of the United States James Garfield’s time in office.
It also tells the tale of Charles Guiteau, who has been described as “not only Garfield’s greatest admirer but also his assassin”.
Who is in the cast of Death by Lightning?
Game of Thrones fans will be thrilled to know that legendary showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are executive producing Death by Lightning, which includes the following cast:
- Michael Shannon as James Garfield
- Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau
- Betty Gilpin as First Lady Crete Garfield
- Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester Arthur
- Bradley Whitford as Senator James Blaine
- Shea Whigham as Senator Roscoe Conkling
- Paula Malcomson as Franny Scoville, sister of Charles Guiteau
- Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague
Death by Lightning is coming to Netflix on November 6.