The Summer Olympics are set to take place in Los Angeles in just two years, and the organizing committee has announced that renowned film producer Kathleen Kennedy will lead the creative direction for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Kennedy, an experienced figure in Hollywood, is stepping in for Peter Rice, who has recently taken a position at Netflix as chief content officer. Her role involves assembling a production team responsible for shaping the ceremonies’ themes and visuals when the Games commence on July 14, 2028.
Despite his departure, Rice is expected to remain involved as an executive producer for the ceremonies.
The ceremonies will be hosted at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Kennedy’s responsibilities will also extend to designing both the closing event and the ceremonies for the Paralympics, which are scheduled to occur the following month.
A native of Berkeley, California, Kennedy earned a degree in communications and film from San Diego State University. Her impact on Hollywood is significant; she served as president of Lucasfilm from 2012 to 2026, contributing to iconic projects like the Star Wars series and television shows such as “The Mandalorian,” “Rogue One,” and “The Last Jedi.”
Kennedy also has a noteworthy history as an executive producer on films like “Jurassic Park III,” released in 2001.
Although she has yet to win an Academy Award, Kennedy has received eight nominations throughout her career for notable films, including “Seabiscuit,” “The Color Purple,” “Munich,” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”
In an official statement, Olympic organizers emphasized that this appointment underscores LA28’s dedication to leveraging the immense creativity and cultural significance of the Los Angeles entertainment scene, aiming for ceremonies that truly reflect the city’s unique identity on a global platform.
Casey Wasserman, the Chairperson and President of LA28, described Kennedy as a legend in the industry, stating, “I can’t think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen.”
