Netflix has revealed a new drama series from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss: Death by Lightning, focused on President James Garfield.
Specifically, the show is said to follow the 20th U.S. president’s rise and his assassination at the hands of Charles Guiteau. The project is based on Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic.
The official logline is as follows: “Death by Lightning is a drama series that brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.”
Without a release date, it appears Death by Lightning still has a while before it comes to the streaming giant’s subscribers. However, it’s already found two leads in Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water, Man of Steel) and recent Emmy winner Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Pride and Prejudice). Shannon has been picked to play Garfield, while Macfadyen will play Guiteau.
Bad Education’s Mike Makowsky is Death by Lightning’s creator and writer, while also serving as an executive producer alongside Benioff, Weiss, and Bernie Caulfield (Game of Thrones, 3 Body Problem). Captain Fantastic and 28 Hotel Rooms alum Matt Ross will also serve as an executive producer while also pitching in to direct every episode.
Benioff and Weiss' latest project is part of the duo's deepening ties with Netflix. This March, following a delay, they will release 3 Body Problem, another novel-inspired show for the streamer. In 2019, the Game of Thrones creators signed a major deal with Netflix, which, at the time, was estimated to be valued at more than $200 million.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
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source https://www.ign.com/articles/game-of-thrones-creators-set-new-netflix-series-with-michael-shannon-matthew-macfadyen