Game of Thrones creators unveil new Netflix period drama: Death by Lightning

The next big project for Game of Thrones creators, David Benioff, Dan Weiss & Bernie Caulfield, is set to be a period drama. “Death by Lightning” tells the story of former US President James Garfield and his assassination.

David Benioff and Dan Weiss took the world by storm with Game of Thrones and saw reactions from both the highs and the lows of passionate fandom over the show’s award-winning eight season run.

But Benoiff and Weissweren’t just sitting on their laurels ever since it wrapped. In the wake of the cancellation of a planned project with Disney, the brains behind Game of Thrones kept busy with the upcoming Neflix series, Three Body Problem, scheduled to hit screens on March 21.

Now, they’ve revealed their next project, and it’s a big departure from their prior body of work. The new show, Death by Lightning, is based on the book Destiny of the Republic, by Candice Miller. The show tells the true story of President James Garfield, and his relationship with the man who would become his assassin, Charles Guiteau.

According to Netflix, the series “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.”

Succession’s Matthew Macfayden is set to star as admirer-turned-assassin, Charles Guiteau. While Michael Shannon will play President Garfield.

Screenwriter, Mike Makowsky serves as both creator and writer on Death by Lightning. Makowsky is best known for best known for the hit crime dramedy, Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman and Ray Romano.

The series will be directed by Matt Ross, whose previous work on Captain Fantastic has been widely praised too.

While a period piece set in the twentieth century marks a big shift from fantasy and sci-fi, the story of James Garfield is certainly equal parts strange and impressive.

However Weiss and Benioff approach this piece of history, it’s sure to be compelling TV.