Kathleen Kennedy to Direct All Four 2028 Olympic Ceremonies
The former Lucasfilm president replaces Peter Rice, who is moving to a senior role at Netflix while remaining involved as an executive producer.
By Hugo Cook ·
Kathleen Kennedy has been appointed as the head of ceremonies and content for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The former Lucasfilm president will oversee the creative direction for all four major events scheduled for next year. She succeeds Peter Rice, who accepted a position as Netflix's chief content officer earlier this week.
Kennedy will manage the production of the Olympic opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, and the closing ceremony on July 30. Her responsibilities also extend to the Paralympic opening on August 15 and the closing on August 27. Ben Winston, the creative director, will work alongside Kennedy to execute the plans for these events.
Peter Rice, who previously replaced Bela Bajaria in his role at LA28, will not leave the project entirely. He will continue to serve as an executive producer for the Games. His departure from the top creative post follows his new appointment at the streaming giant, a move that signals a shift in leadership for the high-profile event.
Casey Wasserman, the chairperson and president of the Los Angeles 2028 bid committee, praised Kennedy's appointment in a statement. He described her as a "legend" and "one of Hollywood's all-time greats." Wasserman expressed confidence that Kennedy is the right person to capture Hollywood's influence during the Games.
Kennedy responded to the news by calling the Olympics "a touchstone in my life." She noted that she and her husband, Frank Marshall, have attended nearly every Olympic Games since the 1984 Los Angeles event. Kennedy acknowledged that Rice built a strong foundation for the project and expressed excitement about collaborating with the existing LA28 team.
Kennedy stepped down as Lucasfilm president at the end of 2025 after a 14-year tenure. She maintains a professional relationship with the studio, which recently released "The Mandalorian and Grogu" and is preparing to release "Star Wars: Starfighter." Her career includes producing major films such as "Jurassic Park" and "Lincoln" alongside Steven Spielberg, as well as overseeing the 2015 release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which earned over $2 billion worldwide.
Her time at Lucasfilm included both critical successes and commercial setbacks, such as the 2018 film "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and the 2023 release of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Kennedy's new role places her at the center of a global media event that aims to blend athletic competition with entertainment for an international audience.
Source: Variety
