Kennedy Takes Helm of Four LA28 Olympic Ceremonies, With July 14 Opening Set

Kathleen Kennedy's appointment to run ceremonies for the 2028 Los Angeles Games resolves a gap created by Peter Rice's move to Netflix, where he was named chief content officer this week. Rice, who had been leading the work, will remain attached to LA28 as an executive producer, the Hollywood Reporter first reported. Kennedy will now take responsibility for producing the Olympic opening on July 14, 2028, and the closing on July 30, followed by the Paralympic opening on Aug. 15 and closing on Aug. 27.

The four ceremonies are the visible spine of any Games broadcast, and the assignment places a producer with four decades of film credits in charge of staging them. Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after 14 years as president. She retains ties to the studio behind "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," with credits including "The Mandalorian and Grogu" and the upcoming "Star Wars: Starfighter," led by Ryan Gosling.

Her film work with Steven Spielberg includes "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park" and "Lincoln." She also helped select J.J. Abrams to direct 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which earned more than $2 billion globally. The record also carries misses: 2018's "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and 2023's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman described Kennedy as a "legend" and "one of Hollywood's all-time greats." He added that when attention turns to Los Angeles for the Games, "I can't think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen."

Kennedy called the Olympics "a touchstone in my life" and said the Games are "one of the great unifying experiences we share." She said Wasserman has "a bold vision for what these Games can mean for Los Angeles and the world," and that she was asked to help bring it to life.

She noted that she and her husband, Frank Marshall, have attended nearly every Games since Los Angeles in 1984. Kennedy credited Rice with laying "a terrific foundation" and said she looks forward to working with Ben Winston, the creative director, and the wider LA28 team. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 14, 2028.