Netflix Announces Drama Series ‘Kennedy’ Starring Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender headlines Netflix’s upcoming drama about the Kennedy family.
Picture: Getty Images and Netflix
Netflix and Chernin Entertainment have greenlit a new drama series exploring the lives, rivalries, and tragedies of the Kennedy family.
Netflix has green-lit a new 8-episode series based on Fredrik Logevall’s book, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956. The series is created by Sam Shaw (Manhattan, Castle Rock, Masters of Sex), helmed by Thomas Vinterberg (Festen, The Hunt, Another Round), and stars two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men, Steve Jobs, The Killer) as Joseph Kennedy Sr., the patriarch of the family. No further casting has been announced.
Esteemed screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Killers of the Flower Moon) is on board as an executive producer. The writer of the original novel, Fredrik Logevall, is also producing.
The series takes place long before John F. Kennedy set foot in the White House. It begins in the 1930s, when Joe Sr., his wife Rose, and their nine children start putting themselves on the nation’s radar.
The official logline reads: KENNEDY reveals 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.
The series was initially revealed by Variety two years ago, but things went quiet. Set to document the life, family, trials, and tribulations of the thirty-fifth U.S. president, John F. Kennedy, the Variety report stated that the series could end up being something of an American version of beloved British series The Crown — the story of a legendary family told over several decades.
The series is now officially underway at Netflix. Showrunner Sam Shaw weighed in on the project and its importance and relevance in today’s world:
“The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology — somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful. But Fredrik Logevall’s stunning, nuanced biography pulls a veil on the human strivings and burdens behind the myth, revealing as much about our present moment, how we got here and where we’re going, as about the Kennedys themselves. I’m thrilled to be able to explore this saga of a family and a world in transition with Eric Roth, Thomas Vinterberg and our incredible band of artists and partners, at a moment when our past feels urgently present.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall’s novel, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956, documents the first 39 years of JFK’s life. It chronicles his rise, relationships, and experiences during the Second World War. Released in 2019 to great critical acclaim, the book went on to feature in the New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
In recent weeks, numerous production listing websites have suggested a January 2026 filming start in London the United Kingdom. Netflix did not confirm any production start in its announcement today.
We’ll keep you updated on all the latest developments. Are you excited for Kennedy? Tell us in the comments down below!