Kathleen Kennedy Takes Over LA28 Ceremonies Spot; Netflix Newbie Peter Rice Will Still EP Opener & Closer

After running Star Wars for years, Kathleen Kennedy is now taking on the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies that aren’t anywhere near a galaxy far far away.

In fact, with less than two years to go before LA28 kicks off on July 14, 2028 at both SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the former LucasFilm boss and now independent producer has to hit the ground running. As of today, multiple Oscar nominee Kennedy will take over Peter Rice‘s old job of Head of Ceremonies and Content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood’s all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling,” said LA28 chair Casey Wasserman said Wednesday in a statement, just two days after ex-Disney exec Rice officially started his new job as stock addled Netflix‘s content chief. “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.”

Clearly all concerned anticipated the Olympic force being strong with Kennedy, even as the Games themselves and Wasserman have come under increasing scrutiny for costs and more. At the same time, as Deadline exclusively revealed on October 15, Rice will being doing double duty at his new streamer gig and as an EP on the L.A. Olympics opener and closer.

“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 today of the looming mega-event, the first Olympics in the City of Angels since 1984.”The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life,”

Kennedy added: “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. 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. 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.”

Along with Kennedy and Rice, Ben Winston will also be a LA28 ceremonies EP, as well as creative director Additionally, longtime Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies producer Scott Givens will be Executive Producer of Production. The actual production of the Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies will be supported by FulFive, the newly created meld of Fulwell Entertainment and FiveCurrents.

LA28 runs from July 14 – 30, 2028. The Paralympics follow from August 15 -27, 2028.