Kathleen Kennedy’s next big production is the Olympics. The former Lucasfilm president has been named head of ceremonies and content for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, putting her in charge of all four ceremonies that will open and close the Games, Variety reports.
She takes over the job from Peter Rice, the former Disney television executive who was hired this week as Netflix’s chief content officer, taking over that post from Bela Bajaria. Rice is not leaving LA28 completely. He will stay on as an executive producer of the ceremonies.
Four Ceremonies, One Summer
Kennedy will oversee the Olympic opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, and the closing ceremony on July 30. The Paralympic Games follow with an opening ceremony on August 15 and a closing ceremony on August 27. That is four live shows in a little over six weeks. She will work alongside Ben Winston, LA28’s creative director.
LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman called Kennedy “one of Hollywood’s all-time greats.” “When the stars align to focus the world’s attention on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can’t think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen,” he said.
For Kennedy, the job is personal. “My husband, Frank Marshall, and I have attended virtually every games since Los Angeles in 1984, and sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share,” she said. “Peter Rice has laid a terrific foundation, and I can’t wait to get to work with Ben Winston, our creative director, and the whole LA28 team.”
Life After Running Lucasfilm
Kennedy ran Lucasfilm for 14 years before stepping aside, with Dave Filoni taking over as president and chief creative officer and Lynwen Brennan as co-president. She oversaw the Star Wars sequel trilogy, starting with The Force Awakens in 2015, along with Rogue One, The Mandalorian and the rest of the Disney+ era of Star Wars.
She has not fully left Star Wars behind, either. Kennedy still has producing credits with Lucasfilm, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, which came to theaters this year and later started streaming on Disney+ September 2, and the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling.
Long before Lucasfilm, Kennedy was one of Steven Spielberg’s closest producing partners, on films including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park and Lincoln. She and Marshall co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Spielberg in 1981, and Wasserman leaned on that Hollywood résumé when he announced the hire.
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