Game of Thrones Creators Set to Produce US Prez Assassination Series Starring Man of Steel Star Michael Shannon
Michael Shannon is one of the most versatile actors Hollywood has ever come up with. The Man Of Steel actor was last seen in the Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. The Academy Award-nominated star is coming up with a political drama led by the Game Of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss.
Michael Shannon will be seen along with the Pride And Prejudice actor Matthew Macfadyen in the upcoming series Death By Lightning.
Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen Collaborate for Political Drama Death By Lightning
The Game Of Thrones showrunner duo David Benioff and Dan Weiss are bringing one of the best actor duos in Hollywood for a political drama. The show would be executively produced by the Game Of Throne creators along with producer Bernie Caulfield. According to the reputed media outlet The Hollywood Reporter Benioff and Weiss’s upcoming project is based on the assassination of the 20th U.S. President James Garfield.
Death By Lightning is based on the critically acclaimed book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President written by author Candice Millard. The book went on to become a New York Times bestseller in 2012. The official synopsis of Death By Lightning mentions-
Death by Lightning is a drama series that brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him.
Read Also: The Flash: Michael Shannon And Antje Traue From Man Of Steel Added To Cast List
Mike Makowsky of Bad Education will be the creator and showrunner for the Micahel Shannon-led Death By Lightning. With Academy Award-winning actor Michael Shannon and Emmy recipient Matthew Macfadyen, the show is already on the path to becoming a critical and financial hit. With multiple nominations and awards, Macfadyen’s HBO drama Succession took the front row during the recent Emmy Awards. He also secured an Emmy award in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Succession.
Michael Shannon Rejected The Offer For a Star Wars Role Because He Did Not Want To Get Stuck With A Franchise
Being a part of reputed franchises like Star Wars and Marvel is every actor’s dream, but this isn’t true with respect to Michael Shannon. During an interview with the media outlet Empire, as reported by People, the Flash actor had simply turned down the proposal of an undisclosed Star Wars role in 2016. While talking about the intergalactic franchise, Michael Shannon clearly pointed out that he never wanted to be stuck with a franchise. He said-
“I’m always a bit wary about those giant movies. Because they take a lot of time and I don’t find them very stimulating to work on. I don’t ever want to get stuck in a franchise. I don’t find them interesting and I don’t want to perpetuate them. If I’m making something, I want there to be some kind of purpose to it — I don’t want to make mindless entertainment. The world doesn’t need more mindless entertainment. We’re inundated with it.”
Though not Star Wars, Shannon is an active part of Flash and Man Of Steel. While talking about his association with the Man of Steel and Flash, he said-
“It’s basically looking at a civilization that destroyed their own planet and thinks the solution is to go off and destroy another. When you hear that hypothetically, if we destroy the Earth, we might go live on Mars — It’s the same thing. I didn’t look at Zod as a villain. I just saw him as a guy whose job is to protect his people. Yeah, I didn’t see myself playing Zod again because he was dead. It’s actually one of the reasons I made Man of Steel in the first place — It was a one-and-done. So I was pretty shocked to hear about this reprisal of the role.”
With two Academy Awards and multiple nominations for his outstanding performance in his projects over the years, Michael Shannon’s great filmography needs no introduction.
