James A. Garfield, His Assassin, Front and Center in “Death by Lightning”
Writer and producer Mike Makowsky spent months securing government approval to view original historical materials. His dedication laid the groundwork for the new Netflix limited series “Death by Lightning.”
The four-part series depicts two intertwined lives: the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, and Charles J. Guiteau, the man who assassinated him in 1881. Garfield’s presidency ended abruptly due to Guiteau’s act, forever altering American history.
Garfield’s home in Mentor, now preserved as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site under the care of the National Park Service, serves as a key setting in the story.
Makowsky based his adaptation on Candice Millard’s 2011 book,
“Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.”The cast features Michael Shannon as Garfield, embodying integrity and principle, and Matthew Macfadyen as Guiteau, portraying his unstable and obsessive personality.
Author’s Summary
The series “Death by Lightning” vividly reconstructs the intertwined destinies of President James A. Garfield and his assassin Charles J. Guiteau, blending history, character, and tragedy into one compelling narrative.