Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy to Stage 2028 Olympic Ceremonies
The producer replaces Peter Rice, who moved to Netflix, and will oversee all four events in Los Angeles.
By Julian Kobayashi ·
Kathleen Kennedy is taking the stage as the head of ceremonies for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The former Lucasfilm president will lead the production of four major events. These include the Olympic opening on July 14, 2028, and the closing on July 30. She will also direct the Paralympic opening on August 15 and the closing on August 27.
Kennedy is replacing Peter Rice, who became Netflix’s chief content officer earlier this week. Rice took over that role from Bela Bajaria. While Rice leaves the top creative spot, he will remain involved with the LA28 Games as an executive producer.
Casey Wasserman, the chairperson and president of LA28, praised Kennedy’s appointment in a statement. He called her a "legend" and "one of Hollywood’s all-time greats." Wasserman said he could not think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood for the global audience.
Kennedy expressed excitement about the role, noting that sport is a unifying force. She mentioned that she and her husband, Frank Marshall, have attended nearly every Olympic Games since Los Angeles hosted in 1984. She said she looks forward to working with Ben Winston, the creative director, and the rest of the LA28 team. Kennedy also acknowledged that Rice laid a strong foundation for the project.
Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after 14 years as president. She keeps a connection to the studio behind "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones." Recent projects under her watch include "The Mandalorian and Grogu" and the upcoming "Star Wars: Starfighter," which stars Ryan Gosling.
The producer has a long history with director Steven Spielberg. They worked together on films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park," and "Lincoln." Kennedy also helped select J.J. Abrams to direct "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015, a film that grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. Her time at Lucasfilm included hits and misses, such as the 2018 film "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and the 2023 movie "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
Source: Variety
