Netflix and Chernin Entertainment have set the new drama series Kennedy, which will explore the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family. Michael Fassbender (The Agency, Black Bag) has been cast as patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr.
Kennedy is based on Fredrik Logevall’s book JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956, and will be showrun by Sam Shaw (Manhattan, Masters of Sex) and directed by Thomas Vinterberg (Festen, The Hunt), with all three set as executive producers.
According to the official logline, the eight-episode series will reveal “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. Beginning in the 1930s, the first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.”
(L-R) Sam Shaw and Thomas Vinterberg
Courtesy, Anders Overgaard
Kennedy Sr. led the political Kennedy dynasty with his wife Rose, the parents of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy among a total of nine children. While heavily into the world of politics, their business and personal lives intersected with Hollywood across multiple generations.
Before helping to launch the political careers of his three sons, Joe Kennedy had a high-profile government career of his own. He was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be the the first chairman of the SEC (1934-35), the first Director of the United States Maritime Commission (1936-38), and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1938-40) during the early years of World War II.
The announcement of the Kennedy series follows Netflix’s success with the historical drama series The Crown, the acclaimed six-season telling of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The series received 24 Emmy Awards from its total 87 nominations, including Best Drama Series for Season 4 in 2021, and multiple acting awards. Additionally, the streamer explored the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the German series The Empress in 2022. Led by Devrim Lingnau in the titular role, the cast began work on the show’s third season earlier this fall.
In addition to Shaw, Vinterberg and Logevall, executive producers are Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kaitlin Dahill for Chernin Entertainment, Eric Roth, Lila Byock, Anya Epstein, Dustin Thomason and Anna O’Malley.
Fassbender currently stars in the Showtime series The Agency: Central Intelligence in the leading role of Brandon Colby. Up next, he will be seen in Hope, the film written, directed and produced by Na Hong-jin in which he stars alongside his wife Alicia Vikander, to be released next year.
He is perhaps best known for his work in the Alien franchise film Prometheus, set before the original Alien film released in 1979; playing Steve Jobs in the eponymous biopic from Aaron Sorkin and directed by Danny Boyle; and starring as Magneto in four X-Men franchise films.
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