Netflix has officially announced that Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender will star as Joe Kennedy Sr. in the upcoming family drama series, Kennedy. Based on Fredrik Logevall’s acclaimed 2020 book JFK: Coming of Age In The American Century, 1917-1956, the series will delve into the triumphs and tragedies of the iconic Kennedy family.
The official logline describes Kennedy as revealing “the intimate lives, loves, rivalries, and tragedies that shaped the most iconic dynasty in modern history, and helped create the world we live in today.” The first season, set in the 1930s, will trace the unlikely rise of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including the rebellious second son, Jack, who struggles to forge his own path while living in the shadow of his celebrated older brother.
The series will consist of eight episodes and is developed by showrunner and executive producer Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex). Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round) will direct the first and final episodes. When the project was announced in 2023, it was initially described as an American adaptation of The Crown. The production is backed by executive producers Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Kaitlin Dahill (Chernin Entertainment), Eric Roth, Logevall, Lila Byock, Anya Epstein, Dustin Thomason, Vinterberg, and Anna O’Malley.
Shaw shared his excitement about the project, stating, “The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology—somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful.” He continued, “Fredrik Logevall’s stunning biography uncovers the human strivings and burdens behind the myth, shedding light on our present moment—how we arrived here and where we’re headed—as much about the Kennedys as about ourselves. I’m thrilled to explore this family saga at a time when our past feels especially relevant,” (via Tudum).
In addition to Kennedy, Netflix has other projects exploring the Kennedy story. Producer Ryan Murphy is currently filming the first season of his new FX anthology series, Love Story, which will focus on the romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, played by Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
