Downton Abbey star joins Matthew MacFadyen in star-studded new Netflix period drama

Netflix has unveiled the brand new trailer for a forthcoming historical drama chronicling the infamous assassination of President James Garfield. The fresh limited series, which lands on Netflix this autumn, features a stellar cast headed by Hollywood icon Michael Shannon.

In the trailer for the new programme Death by Lightning, audiences catch their first glimpse of Shannon portraying the President facing his final moments. Meanwhile, Matthew Macfadyen of Succession and Pride and Prejudice fame appears alongside him as Charles Guiteau, the individual who murdered President Garfield.

Other cast members include American Primeval's Betty Gilpin, The Last of Us actor Nick Offerman and Downton Abbey's Tuppence Middleton.

Garfield served as the 20th president of the United States, holding office from March 1881 until his death in September that year.

The former Civil War general had previously completed nine terms in the United States House of Representatives and maintains the distinction of being the sole sitting House member to secure the presidency.

The new Netflix programme recounts the tale of his devastatingly short presidency, which Garfield himself foretold just two weeks into his tenure with the prophetic words: "Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning."

Netflix's new series, Death by Lightning, is a blend of comedy and tragedy. Tudum has stated: "Guiteau's delusions of grandeur would come to have a seismic impact on America's cultural fabric, but before he was an assassin, he was a nuisance."

The drama, based on the extraordinary true story, explores the tenure of James Garfield, the reluctant 20th president of the United States.

It also narrates the story of Charles Guiteau, who is described as "not only Garfield's greatest admirer but also his assassin".

Game of Thrones fans will be thrilled to know that legendary showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are executive producing Death by Lightning, which includes the following cast:

• Michael Shannon as James Garfield

• Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau

• Betty Gilpin as First Lady Crete Garfield

• Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester Arthur

• Bradley Whitford as Senator James Blaine

• Shea Whigham as Senator Roscoe Conkling

• Paula Malcomson as Franny Scoville, sister of Charles Guiteau

• Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague

Death by Lightning is coming to Netflix on November 6.