Matthew Macfadyen on Filming 'Death by Lightning' Amid Trump Assassination Attempt
Matthew Macfadyen reflected on the surreal experience of filming the Netflix historical drama Death by Lightning during the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. The series, which depicts the election and assassination of President James Garfield, resonated deeply with the real-life event.
Parallels Between History and Present
Macfadyen told USA Today the attempt on Trump’s life seemed to "mirror" the show’s themes. He portrayed Charles Guiteau, Garfield’s assassin, as the production unfolded in Hungary during the summer of 2024 when news of the attack reached the cast.
Atmosphere on Set
Recalling the day they filmed Guiteau’s execution scene, Macfadyen described it as “extremely hot” and “stark and quite lonely.” The filming took place in a large location outside Budapest, where a gallows had been constructed for the scene.
“It was quite odd and eerie.”
Michael Shannon on the Project’s Growing Relevance
Michael Shannon, who plays Garfield, noted that as political developments like President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and Kamala Harris’s nomination unfolded, the series gained new significance.
“The fact that he was able to keep thinking about other people and trying to manage the situation, even though he was in so much pain.”
Shannon expressed admiration for Garfield’s endurance following his shooting in 1881.
Summary
Macfadyen and Shannon highlighted how filming a historical assassination drama during a contemporary political crisis added a profound layer of meaning to their work.
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