Kathleen Kennedy, the former head of Lucasfilm, has been named head of ceremonies and content for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Variety reported on 28 October. She replaces Peter Rice, who days earlier was hired as Netflix's chief content officer, taking over from Bela Bajaria. Rice will stay involved with the LA28 Games as an executive producer. Variety said the news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Four ceremonies in summer 2028
Kennedy will lead the delivery of all four ceremonies:
| Ceremony | Date |
|---|---|
| Olympic opening | 14 July 2028 |
| Olympic closing | 30 July 2028 |
| Paralympic opening | 15 August 2028 |
| Paralympic closing | 27 August 2028 |
LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman called Kennedy a "legend" and "one of Hollywood’s all-time greats." "When the stars align to focus the world’s attention on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can’t think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen," he said.
Kennedy described the Olympics as "a touchstone in my life" and said: "My husband, Frank Marshall, and I have attended virtually every games since Los Angeles in 1984, and sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share."
From Spielberg to Star Wars
Kennedy left Lucasfilm at the end of 2025 after 14 years as president, but she still works with the company behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Her recent credits include The Mandalorian and Grogu and the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, led by Ryan Gosling.
| When | Milestone, per Variety |
|---|---|
| Over many years | Works with Steven Spielberg on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park and Lincoln |
| 2015 | Helps pick J.J. Abrams to direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which earns more than $2 billion worldwide |
| 2018 | Solo: A Star Wars Story, which Variety counts among the misfires of her tenure |
| 2023 | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, another misfire in Variety's view |
| End of 2025 | Leaves Lucasfilm after 14 years as president |
| 28 October 2026 | Named to lead the LA28 ceremonies |
What comes next
Kennedy will now work with creative director Ben Winston and the LA28 team toward the Olympic opening ceremony on 14 July 2028, the first of the four events she will oversee. Crediting her predecessor, she said: "Peter Rice has laid a terrific foundation, and I can’t wait to get to work with Ben Winston, our creative director, and the whole LA28 team." Rice remains on board as an executive producer alongside his new job at Netflix.