Death by Lightning Season 2: Renewed or Canceled? What We Know So Far

Netflix just dropped Death by Lightning on November 6, 2025, and it shot straight onto a lot of watchlists. It is a tight, four-part historical drama about President James A. Garfield and the man who killed him, Charles J. Guiteau. The cast is stacked, the storytelling is lean, and yes, everyone is already asking the same thing: is there going to be a Season 2?

Short answer: probably not

Netflix is labeling Death by Lightning as a limited series. Translation: it was designed as a one-and-done story, not the start of a long run. There has been no renewal announcement, and given the way the season is built, you should not expect a second season.

What the show actually covers

The series digs into the rise of President James A. Garfield, his brief time in office, and the assassination carried out by Charles J. Guiteau, then follows the aftermath. It is inspired by Candice Millard's book Destiny of the Republic, and the show uses that framework to tell a complete story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. In other words, it wraps itself up. Nicely.

The players and the pedigree

Part of why the show feels so sharp: the creative lineup. Mike Makowsky is the creator, and executive producers include David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (the Game of Thrones duo), which gives the whole thing a prestige sheen. Early reaction has been pretty positive, too.

• Michael Shannon as President James A. Garfield
• Matthew Macfadyen as Charles J. Guiteau
• Nick Offerman as Chester Arthur
• Betty Gilpin as Lucretia Garfield
• Bradley Whitford in a supporting role

Bottom line

Death by Lightning was built as a complete four-episode story. Netflix has not said anything about a renewal, and the limited series branding makes a Season 2 very unlikely. Enjoy it as the single-season event it was intended to be.