LOS ANGELES — Longtime film producer Kathleen Kennedy has been appointed to direct the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, organizers announced Wednesday.
Kennedy will take the title of head of ceremonies and content for LA28, stepping into a role previously held by Peter Rice, the organizing committee said. Rice vacated the primary position after being named chief content officer at Netflix earlier in the week, though he will stay connected to the Games as an executive producer, according to Variety.
A Storied Career in Film
Kennedy, 73, is widely recognized as one of the most prolific producers in cinematic history, having earned eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture across a decades-long career. She served as president of Lucasfilm from 2012 until recently stepping down, steering modern theatrical installments and streaming series in the “Star Wars” universe. Her extensive filmography also features landmark titles such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future” and “Lincoln.”
“Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood’s all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling,” Casey Wasserman, chairperson and president of LA28, said in a statement. “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 noted that she and her husband, film producer Frank Marshall, have attended nearly every Olympic gathering since Los Angeles previously staged the Summer Games in 1984.
“The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life,” Kennedy said in a statement. “Sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share.”
Staging Four Major Celebrations
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the creative team will handle four distinct events spread across two major athletic facilities in the region. The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is scheduled for July 14, 2028, and will feature dual stages at both the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Olympic closing ceremony will follow on July 30 at the Coliseum.
The Paralympic Games will begin with an opening event on Aug. 15 at SoFi Stadium and conclude on Aug. 27 at the Coliseum.
Kennedy will work alongside a leadership roster that features Emmy-winning producer Ben Winston serving as creative director and executive producer, as well as Scott Givens acting as executive producer of production. Winston previously produced the California-based handover segment during the 2024 Paris Olympics closing festivities, which featured musical acts including Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg.
New Slogan Unveiled
Alongside the executive announcement on Wednesday, organizers introduced “Stars Align” as the official slogan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a phrase paying tribute to Southern California’s central place in global culture and film entertainment.
With production planning now shifting under Kennedy’s direction, the committee aims to showcase the city’s artistic heritage to an international television audience of billions, while further talent lineups and programmatic specifics remain to be revealed as the 2028 Games draw nearer.
