New actors cast for Netflix limited series Death by Lightning

Netflix has announced that the cast of the limited series Death by Lightning from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss has expanded. In addition to Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin, Vondie Curtis Hall, Archie Fisher, Barry Shabaka Henley and Željko Ivanek can be seen in the series about US President James Garfield. Kyle Soller (Bodies (2023)), Ben Miles (Hijack), Shaun Parkes (Lost in Space (2018)) and Alistair Petrie (Sex Education) are the latest additions to the series which has completed production in Budapest, Hungary.



Director Matt Ross's historical series stars Curtis Hall as Frederick Douglass, Fisher plays Joe Brown, Shabaka Henley plays Senator Blanche Bruce (who replaces Stephen Mckinley Henderson due to a planned conflict), The Walking Dead: Dead City actor Ivanek plays Dr. Doctor Bliss, Soller plays Robert Todd Lincoln, Miles stars as George Scoville, Parkes plays Dr. Charles Purvis and Petrie (pictured) plays John Sherman.

The Netflix series is based on the novel Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, and explores the "stranger-than-fiction true story" of James Garfield, the 20th US President played by Shannon, and "his greatest admirer" Charles Guiteau, and the man who would eventually kill him, played by Macfadyen.

Other previously announced cast members include Laura Marcus as Mollie Garfield, Bradley Whitford as Secretary of State James Blaine, Shea Whigham as Senator Roscoe Conkling, Paula Malcomson who plays Franny Scoville, Charles Guiteau's sister, and Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague.

Mike Makowsky created Death by Lightning and is the writer. He produces alongside Benioff and Weiss, Bernie Caulfield and director Ross.