Kathleen Kennedy Tapped to Lead 2028 LA Olympics Ceremonies
The former Lucasfilm head will oversee the opening and closing ceremonies for the Los Angeles Games.
Kathleen Kennedy, the prolific Hollywood producer and former head of Lucasfilm, has been appointed to lead the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The appointment comes after the original choice for the role, Peter Rice, accepted a position as Chief Content Officer at Netflix.
Organizers stated that Kennedy's selection underscores Los Angeles's commitment to leveraging the creative and storytelling power of Hollywood. "This appointment reinforces LA28’s commitment to harness the unparalleled creativity, cultural influence and storytelling power of the entertainment capital of the world," a statement from the organizers read. "Ceremonies that are distinctly Los Angeles and leave a lasting impression on the global stage."
Kennedy has an extensive career in film, producing notable movies such as "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Back to the Future," and "Jurassic Park." She took the helm at Lucasfilm after George Lucas sold the company to Disney. During her tenure at Lucasfilm, the studio released several installments in the Star Wars saga, some of which have drawn criticism.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 14, 2028, with events set to occur simultaneously at the Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.