Netflix Drops Thrilling ‘Death by Lightning’ Trailer Starring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen

Netflix just dropped the official trailer for Death by Lightning, its upcoming limited series about the bizarre and often overlooked assassination of President James Garfield. And yes, it looks just as twisted, gripping, and darkly funny as you’d hope from a historical drama featuring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen.

Landing on Netflix November 6, Death by Lightning is shaping up to be prestige TV with a pulse. The trailer dives headfirst into 1880s Washington DC, where Garfield’s short-lived presidency is disrupted by Charles Guiteau, a delusional office seeker turned assassin. Based on the trailer, this isn’t your typical dusty historical reenactment. It’s sharp, tense, and laced with just enough modern irreverence to make the Gilded Age feel surprisingly current.

Michael Shannon steps into the role of President Garfield with the kind of gravitas only Shannon can bring. Meanwhile, Matthew Macfadyen trades in his Succession smarm for full-blown fanaticism as Guiteau, delivering a performance that’s already drawing early buzz. Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman, and Bradley Whitford round out a cast so stacked it could get its own cabinet appointment.

From the sets to the snappy dialogue, Netflix is clearly swinging for the Emmy fences here. The series is based on the book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, so expect a mix of fact-based storytelling with plenty of dramatic flair. If the trailer is any indication, Death by Lightning will be a historical drama that doesn’t just sit there politely, it lunges off the screen with blood, ambition, and a little political absurdity for good measure.

So mark your calendars for November 6. Whether you’re a history buff, a drama junkie, or just here for Macfadyen in yet another unhinged role, Death by Lightning looks like it’s going to be killer.

Follow The TV Cave for more updates, episode recaps, and all the juicy behind-the-scenes scoops once the series hits Netflix.