Netflix's 'Death by Lightning' stars Michael Shannon as U.S. President James Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as his assassin, Charles Guiteau

Actors Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen chat with USA TODAY about their roles in the new historical drama "Death by Lightning" on Netflix.

Death by Lightning" dropped on the streamer, and it tells the true story of President James Garfield's election and his tragic assassination.

Indeed, Garfield not wanting the nomination for President is one of the reasons why his peers end up elevating him to that position at the RNC that takes place in Death by Lightning. Although as Shannon says, that way of thinking about public servants feels very foreign nowadays.

Michael Shannon also talks about his longtime friendship with actor Shea Whigham, who's also in the Netflix limited series.

Assassination thriller “Death by Lightning” showcases the O.G. bad stan with toxic parasocial behavior. Sound familiar?

The fact-based drama "Nuremberg," in theaters Friday, reunites Michael Shannon with Russell Crowe, who played his nemesis in "Man of Steel."

Was the assassin who killed President James Garfield really unwell? Did Chester A. Arthur like drunk boxing? We fact-check "Death by Lightning."