Netflix’s Death By Lightning became surprisingly timely for its casting

Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen first sought to shed light on a turbulent moment in American history with Death by lightningonly for it to become surreal with its connections to the real world. The historical Netflix series explores the short-lived presidency of James A. Garfield, whose efforts to improve various government structures and establish civil rights for African Americans were cut short by his assassination by Charles J. Guiteau.

Shannon and Macfadyen lead the all-star group Death by lightning performed as Garfield and Guiteau, while working alongside Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham, reuniting him with Shannon for their seventh project. The show also marks the latest collaboration between Netflix and Game of Thrones veterans David Benioff and DB Weiss after their extensive 3 Body Problem adaptation.

In honor of the show’s premiere, ScreenRantLiam Crowley interviewed Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen to discuss Death by lightning. The conversation focused on the series’ current parallels, specifically assassination attempts on President Donald Trump in 2024as well as the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.

Macfadyen began by indicating that he became “a bit surreal” working on Netflix’s political title in the wake of these events, especially since the first attempt against Trump came “right in the middle of our summer shoot“. He also found that it was “quite alarming“to be part of something that is”so prescient and current“.

Matthew Macfadyen: It’s incredibly modern and sometimes I’m a little anxious, as Mike says, that it’s not a dusty period piece. It looks really modern. It’s really… Human behavior doesn’t really change.

Shannon agrees that there are a lot of Death by lightning “that people will recognize in the current situation” of the country, also highlighting the parallels with “Biden withdraws“during the presidential election coinciding with the show”film the convention scenes“, which gave the production team the feeling of “a huge wind at our back“:

Michael Shannon: I just can’t imagine a story more relevant to today, which is so strange because it happened in the late 1800s and yet it seems [all too timely].

Michael Shannon was hesitant to take on some of his roles

ScreenRant: Michael, to speak to you specifically, one of the brilliant scenes in Death by lightning is in this first episode where we have the Republican National Convention and everyone is rallying around James, and he’s not even on the ticket yet, he’s running for this nomination. To blame you as an actor, has this ever happened to you for a role, something that you were a little hesitant to take on, but the support of your friends, your family, your fans pushed you to accept it?

Michael Shannon: It would often be difficult to name them all in this brief interview. Yes, quite constantly, yes. I played Elvis, I played George Jones, I played a president, I played a Mossad agent who grew up in a concentration camp. All these times people call me and I say, “Are you sure? Of course, it’s me you’re looking for?” But it’s really exciting actually to have these opportunities that you thought you’d never have. That’s kind of what makes it all interesting in the end. But yes, I often say that I feel a bit like Chauncey Gardiner from Being There. I come in and Shirley MacLaine thinks I’m all that, and I’m just this guy. But I suppose maybe that’s a little falsely modest. I don’t know. But yes, I do it.