Kennedy to Head 2028 LA Olympic Ceremonies

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature a new face in charge of its ceremonial moments. Organizers appointed Kathleen Kennedy as the head of ceremonies and content for the upcoming games.

Kennedy takes over from Peter Rice, who was named Netflix's chief content officer earlier this week. Rice will not leave the Olympic project entirely; he remains involved as an executive producer for the LA28 Games. The role Kennedy accepts carries specific dates for execution. The Olympic opening is scheduled for July 14, 2028, while the closing takes place on July 30. The Paralympic events follow, with an opening on August 15 and a closing on August 27. Kennedy will oversee the delivery of all four of these major events.

Casey Wasserman, the chairperson and president of LA28, made the announcement. He described Kennedy as a legend and one of Hollywood's all-time greats. Wasserman stated that he could not think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood for the event. He noted that the games will focus the world's attention on Los Angeles. Kennedy responded to the appointment by calling the Olympics a touchstone in her life. She described the games as one of the great unifying experiences shared by the public. She added that she is thrilled to help bring Wasserman's bold vision to life.

Kennedy's personal connection to the games runs deep. She noted that she and her husband, Frank Marshall, have attended virtually every Olympic games since Los Angeles hosted in 1984. She praised her predecessor, saying Rice has laid a terrific foundation. She also expressed eagerness to work with Ben Winston, the creative director, and the wider LA28 team.

Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after 14 years serving as president. She still maintains ties to the studio behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Her recent professional credits include The Mandalorian and Grogu, which released last summer. She is also attached to the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling.

Her career includes a long partnership with director Steven Spielberg. She worked with him on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and Lincoln. She also helped select J.J. Abrams to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. That film revived the franchise and earned more than $2 billion globally. Her tenure at Lucasfilm included mixed results, with Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023 cited as disappointments.