LOS ANGELES — Kathleen Kennedy, the legendary Hollywood producer behind some of the biggest films and franchises in cinematic history, has been named Head of Ceremonies and Content for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, LA28 announced Wednesday.
Kennedy, an eight-time Academy Award nominee and former president of Lucasfilm, will oversee all four Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics and Paralympics, bringing decades of Hollywood storytelling experience to one of the world's largest sporting events.
The appointment represents another major step in LA28's efforts to incorporate the entertainment industry's creative talent into the Games, which will return to Los Angeles for the first time since 1984.
As executive producer of the ceremonies, Kennedy will help shape the productions at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and 2028 Stadium, currently known as SoFi Stadium, with performances expected to reach billions of viewers around the world.
"Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood's all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling," LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said. "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."
Kennedy is one of the most accomplished producers in Hollywood history, having worked on more than 70 feature films that have collectively earned 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins.
She served as president of Lucasfilm from 2012 to 2026, overseeing the Star Wars franchise during a period of expansion into new films and streaming television series. Her career also includes co-founding Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her husband, Frank Marshall, and producing some of Hollywood's most recognizable films.
Kennedy and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall Company in 1992 and jointly received the Academy's Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2018 for their contributions to filmmaking.
For Kennedy, the opportunity to help produce the 2028 ceremonies carries special significance because of her longstanding connection to the Olympic Games and Los Angeles.
"Casey Wasserman has a bold vision for what these Games can mean for Los Angeles and the world, and I'm thrilled he's asked me to help bring it to life," Kennedy said. "The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life. 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."
Kennedy will succeed Peter Rice as Head of Ceremonies and Content, although Rice will remain involved as an executive producer. She joins a creative leadership team that includes Ben Winston, executive producer and creative director, and Scott Givens, executive producer of production.
The ceremonies will be supported by FulFive, a new production entity combining Fulwell Entertainment and FiveCurrents.
"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," Kennedy said. "These Games are rooted in Los Angeles, but with events from Oklahoma City to LA28's six incredible Soccer/Football cities, all of America gets to host the world's finest athletes, and I'm honored to help celebrate every Olympian and Paralympian who come to compete."
Kennedy's appointment comes as LA28 moves from the early development stages of its ceremonies toward production and execution, with less than two years remaining before the Olympics begin.
The Olympic Opening Ceremony is scheduled for July 14, 2028, with the Closing Ceremony set for July 30. The Paralympic Opening Ceremony will take place Aug. 15, followed by the Closing Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Aug. 27.
Los Angeles will become just the third city to host three Summer Olympic Games, following previous editions in 1932 and 1984. The city will also host the Paralympic Games for the first time.
More than 15,000 athletes are expected to participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with competitions spread throughout Southern California and additional events in Oklahoma City and other American cities.
The Games will also mark several historic milestones, including the most gender-balanced Olympics in history and the first Summer Games since 1948 to be staged without constructing new permanent sporting venues.
For LA28, bringing Kennedy aboard underscores its ambition to deliver ceremonies that showcase not only the world's greatest athletes but also the entertainment industry that has helped define Los Angeles for generations.
With one of Hollywood's most influential producers now leading the creative effort, LA28 is looking to turn the Opening and Closing Ceremonies into productions worthy of both the world's biggest sporting stage and the entertainment capital of the world.