Kathleen Kennedy to lead the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ceremonies, replacing Peter Rice
Kathleen Kennedy, the former president of Lucasfilm, has been named head of ceremonies and content for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, Variety reported Wednesday. She replaces Peter Rice, who was hired this week as Netflix’s chief content officer. Rice will stay involved with LA28 as an executive producer, Variety reported.
The job: Kennedy will lead all four ceremonies: the Olympic opening on July 14, 2028, and closing on July 30, and the Paralympic opening on Aug. 15 and closing on Aug. 27, Variety reported. Kennedy said she will work with LA28 creative director Ben Winston, Variety reported.
What they said: LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman called Kennedy “one of Hollywood’s all-time greats,” Variety reported. Kennedy said she and her husband, producer Frank Marshall, have attended virtually every Games since Los Angeles in 1984.
Her career: Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after 14 years as president, Variety reported. She produced films with Steven Spielberg including “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park” and “Lincoln,” and oversaw the 2015 revival “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which earned more than $2 billion worldwide.