Kathleen Kennedy Takes Helm of 2028 LA Olympic Ceremonies

14 years as Lucasfilm president have led Kathleen Kennedy to a new role at the center of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Organizers announced on Tuesday that Kennedy will serve as head of ceremonies and content for the Games. This appointment places her in charge of the delivery for all four major ceremonies scheduled for the summer of 2028.

Kennedy succeeds Peter Rice, who departed the LA28 team earlier this week to become Netflix's chief content officer. Rice will remain involved with the Games as an executive producer. The Olympic opening ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, with the closing on July 30. The Paralympic opening will follow on August 15, concluding on August 27.

Casey Wasserman, chairperson and president of LA28, praised Kennedy's appointment in a statement. He described her as a "legend" and "one of Hollywood's all-time greats." Wasserman stated that when the world's attention focuses on Los Angeles, he cannot think of anyone better suited to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kennedy.

Kennedy accepted the role by describing the Olympics as a touchstone in her life. She called the Games one of the great unifying experiences shared globally. She noted that she and her husband, Frank Marshall, have attended virtually every Olympics since Los Angeles hosted the event in 1984. She expressed enthusiasm for working with creative director Ben Winston and the wider LA28 team.

Before this appointment, Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after her 14-year tenure. She maintains ties to the company behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Her recent credits include The Mandalorian and Grogu, which premiered last summer, and the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling.

Kennedy has a long history with major film franchises. She worked closely with Steven Spielberg 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 earned more than $2 billion globally and is credited with reviving the franchise.

Her time at Lucasfilm included both critical successes and disappointments. Films such as Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023 were cited as underperformers during her leadership. Despite these mixed results, her experience in large-scale storytelling has made her a prominent figure in the industry.