Although the Game Of Thrones finale received a mixed reception, many were excited to see what showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss would do next following their global fantasy phenomenon. At one point, a ‘Star Wars’ project was even planned here, but it was subsequently scrapped – in favor of a $200 million deal with Netflix that would see the duo create exclusive content for the streaming provider. In various positions.
After staging the stand-up special “Leslie Jones: Time Machine” in 2020 and producing the drama series “The Professor” a year later (which was canceled after one season), the science fiction bestseller follows. (whose cover photo above was taken) this year marks the first project since the end of “Game Of Thrones” on which they serve as writers together. But that’s far from the end of the Netflix story for Benioff and Weiss.
As US trade publications consistently report: The makers of “Game Of Thrones” have already announced their next Netflix project, “Death By Lightning”. – and have already signed two key players. However, Benioff and Weiss are ‘normal’ again as producers appear and probably won’t pull the script pen out on its own.
This is ‘Death by Lightning’
“Death By Lightning” is an adaptation of the novel “Destiny Of The Republic” (which has not yet been published in German). In this one, author Candice Millard draws follows the true story of the reluctant twentieth president, US President James Garfield, and his greatest admirer, Charles Guiteau, who eventually murdered Garfield.
The roles of Garfield and Guiteau will be ‘Man Of Steel’ villains Michael Shannon and the two-time Emmy Award-winning “Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen Valve. Mike Makowsky (“Bad Education”) will serve as showrunner on the series, with “Captain Fantastic” director Matt Ross taking over production.
More Netflix series from Benioff and Weiss?
It is not known for how many years David Benioff and DB Weiss’ Netflix contract is valid. And even if the originally agreed term expires, an extension is always conceivable (as was the case with Adam Sandler or bestselling author Harlan Coben). Another potential project for the streamer may already be in the pipeline.
In 2021 it was announced that the duo will produce an adaptation of the parallel world novel ‘The Overstory’ together with Hollywood star Hugh Jackman. However, there has been no news on the project since then, so it’s unclear if it will be pursued at all. Since “Death By Lightning” has already made further progress in terms of personnel, this series is certainly preferable.
But first of all the beginning of the above “3 body problem“, in which humanity prepares for the impending arrival of aliens. Netflix release is on March 21, 2024, there is already a promising trailer: