There's a Netflix Show in the Works About President Garfield's Assassination

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Netflix's upcoming historical drama, Death by Lightning, will tell the tale of the assassination of U.S. President James Garfield.

Per the streamer, "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."

Here's everything we know so far about the series.

Death by Lightning has a star-studded cast.

The four main roles have been announced so far:

• Michael Shannon as President James Garfield

• Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau, the man who killed Garfield

• Betty Gilpin as Crete Garfield, the First Lady

• Nick Offerman as Chester A. Arthur, Garfield's vice president and successor

It's based on a book by Candice Millard.

The show is based on Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, and she is looking forward to the series. "I could not be more excited about this! Brilliant director, incredible actors, and most of all the insanely talented young screenwriter, @mike.makowsky, who made it all happen," she posted on Instagram.

Per the publisher, "James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, a renowned congressman, and a reluctant presidential candidate who took on the nation's corrupt political establishment. But four months after Garfield's inauguration in 1881, he was shot in the back by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the attack, but became the object of bitter, behind-the-scenes struggles for power—over his administration, over the nation's future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care."

Death by Lightning is executive produced by the Game of Thrones team.

The series is created by Mike Makowsky, and executive produced by GOT's David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Bernie Caulfield.

"Have spent the last five years going down the craziest rabbit hole ever, all thanks to @candicemillard and her wonderful book DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC," Makowsky posted on Instagram after the news was announced. "Can’t believe we actually get to go make this thing."

No premiere date has been set yet.

We'll update this as soon as we learn more about Death by Lightning.

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