Death by Lightning Season 2: Will It Happen? Renewal Odds, Release Timeline, and What’s Next

Netflix dropped Death by Lightning on November 6, 2025, and it immediately became one of those shows everyone tells you to catch up on. It is a sharply made period drama pulled from real history, and it ends exactly where history says it has to. Which is why a lot of you are now asking: is there any chance of a Season 2?

What the show is doing (and doing well)

The series tracks James A. Garfield’s ascent to the presidency and the deranged path of Charles Guiteau, the man who would kill him. Michael Shannon plays Garfield with steel and warmth; Matthew Macfadyen makes Guiteau both chilling and disturbingly funny. Mike Makowsky created the show, and the whole thing is paced like a thriller while still feeling grounded in the era.

"Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning — it is best not to worry too much about either one."

That line from Garfield isn’t just a period flourish. It’s the show’s thesis and, frankly, a big clue about how final this story is meant to feel.

Where things stand right now

• Release: Season 1 premiered on Netflix on November 6, 2025.
• Format: It was built and marketed as a miniseries. Translation: what you watched is what was planned.
• Renewal status: No Season 2 has been announced.
• How Netflix decides: The streamer watches viewership and drop-off rates and usually takes months to announce a renewal or cancellation.
• Performance so far: Strong audience interest and upbeat reviews.
• Scores at the moment: IMDb 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%.
• Creator and cast: Created by Mike Makowsky. Stars Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen alongside Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, and Nick Offerman.

So... could there be a Season 2?

Short answer: unlikely, given the miniseries label and the fact that Garfield’s story naturally closes the loop. If Netflix did change course, the most plausible move would be to reframe the show as an anthology. That would let it pivot to a new presidential chapter while keeping the same tone and approach.

If it pivots, what would it cover?

Season 1 covers Garfield and Guiteau from both sides of the tragedy. A second installment could either live in the aftermath of Garfield’s assassination or jump to another presidency entirely. The obvious candidate the show tees up is Rutherford B. Hayes, Garfield’s immediate predecessor and a frequent point of confusion for casual history students.

Why Hayes could fit the template:

Both Hayes (19th president) and Garfield (20th president) were Republicans from Ohio and Civil War veterans. Garfield served as a major general in the Union Army; Hayes was a brevet major general who earned respect after being wounded multiple times. The big difference: Hayes served from 1877 to 1881 and died of natural causes on January 17, 1893, while Garfield’s term ran from March 1881 to September 1881, ending with his death on September 19, 1881.

The bottom line

Enjoy Death by Lightning as the self-contained story it was designed to be. The numbers are good and critics are on board, but without a formal shift to an anthology, a traditional Season 2 isn’t the smart bet. If Netflix gets curious and the audience keeps showing up, a new chapter about another president is the most realistic path forward.

Death by Lightning is streaming on Netflix.