Death by Lightning cast and character guide: Here's who's bringing real stories to life in the upcoming Netflix drama

Death by Lightning is Netflix's upcoming historical political docu-miniseries based on Candice Millard's 2011 book titled Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President. The four-part miniseries, created by the Emmy-winning duo of director Matt Ross (Gaslit) and creator Mike Makowsky (Bad Education), will arrive on the platform on November 6, 2025.

As told in Millard's book, Netflix's Death by Lightning will follow the rise of James A. Garfield, an ordinary man who became the 20th President of the USA. The show will also feature Garfield's eventual assassination at the hands of one of his delusional admirers. The miniseries will also delve into the political landscape of America during the 1870s and 1880s, highlighting Garfield’s vision to elevate the nation into a more refined and idealistic society a century after its founding.

Here is the Death by Lightning cast, who will bring this stranger-than-fiction true story to life.

Death by Lightning cast: Meet the main players in Netflix's upcoming historical miniseries

Here's the confirmed list of the show's cast:

1) Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield: Oscar-nominated actor (for Revolutionary Road and Nocturnal Animals) is the most important addition to the Death by Lightning cast. Michael Shannon will play the character of President James Garfield in the upcoming series. The series will chart out Garfield's rise from abject poverty to the 20th President of the USA and eventually his tragic assassination.

2) Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau: Pride & Prejudice star Matthew Macfadyen is set to play the role of Charles Guiteau, the delusional man who assassinated the 20th president of the USA in 1881. Guiteau was a mentally ill and failed lawyer who believed that he deserved a consulship in return for his 'aid', which led to James A. Garfield's victory. Macfadyen is known for his dramatic role in Succession, and it will be interesting to see him play an antagonist in a political series.

3) Betty Gilpin as First Lady Lucretia Garfield: The Emmy-nominated actress (for GLOW) is another impressive addition to the Death by Lightning cast, who will play the role of Lucretia, the wife of James A. Garfield. The series will follow Lucretia's support for the USA President as his wife and her eventual fallout after his death. Gilpin was recently seen in Netflix's American Primeval.

4) Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur: Parks & Recreation comedic star Nick Offerman is set to portray a dramatic role in the upcoming miniseries. He will play the role of Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the USA, who was elected in the aftermath of Garfield's assassination.

5) Shea Whigham as Roscoe Conkling: True Detective and Boardwalk Empire star is the next addition in the Death by Lightning cast, who will play the role of Roscoe. A Republican politician, Roscoe, represented New York in the US House of Representatives, and his tense political relationship with Garfield remained a key focus of American politics in the 1880s.

6) Bradley Whitford as James Blaine: Emmy-winning star Bradley Whitford is among the most impressive additions in the Death by Lightning cast. A political genre veteran, thanks to his portrayal of Josh Lyman in NBC's The West Wing, the actor is ready to take on a different character, caught amidst political intrigue. Whitford will play the character of James Blaine, a fellow Republican who served twice as Secretary of State under presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur.