Death By Lightning filming locations as it lands on Netflix
Death By Lightning on Netflix was executive produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, known for their work on Game of Thrones. The streaming platform released this four-part historical drama exploring the events surrounding the assassination of the 20th President of the United States.
The series is based on Candice Millard’s non-fiction book Destiny of the Republic and debuted in full on Thursday, November 6. Set in 1881, the show portrays how James A. Garfield (played by Michael Shannon), who once backed John Sherman (played by Alistair Petrie), unexpectedly rose to the presidency.
As the drama tracks Garfield’s path to the White House, it also follows the dark obsession of his soon-to-be assassin, Charles Guiteau (portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen), who begins as an admirer before turning deadly.
“Despite Death By Lightning revolving around a key chapter in America’s history, the Netflix show wasn’t actually filmed in the US.”
Instead, production took place in Budapest, Hungary. Filming began on July 1, 2024, and concluded in October 2024, giving the series its authentic 19th-century atmosphere through Europe’s preserved architecture and cinematic backdrops.
Author’s Summary: The Netflix series Death By Lightning captures the rise and tragedy of President Garfield, filmed entirely in Budapest to recreate America’s 1880s with historical precision.