Veteran Hollywood producer Kathleen Kennedy has been named to oversee the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the organizing committee announced Wednesday. Kennedy, known for her leadership on major franchises including "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park," will lead the creative team responsible for designing the ceremonies that will launch and conclude the Games.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 14, 2028, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. In addition to the Olympic ceremonies, Kennedy will also direct the production of both the opening and closing events for the Paralympic Games, which follow a month later.

The LA28 organizing committee emphasized that Kennedy's appointment aligns with its goal to leverage Los Angeles’ reputation as a global entertainment hub. Officials said the ceremonies will be distinctly reflective of the city's diverse culture and creativity, aiming to leave a lasting impression internationally.

Kennedy will assume the role of head of ceremonies and content, a position formerly held by Peter Rice, a prominent entertainment executive who rose to president of 21st Century Fox before moving to Netflix as chief content officer. While Rice will step down from his lead role, he will remain involved as an executive producer.

Kennedy’s appointment was praised by LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, who described her as “one of Hollywood’s all-time greats” and expressed confidence in her ability to blend Hollywood’s storytelling magic with the Olympic spectacle.

Kennedy, who recently concluded a 14-year tenure as president of Lucasfilm, said she and her husband, producing partner Frank Marshall, are longtime Olympic fans, having attended nearly every Games since Los Angeles hosted them in 1984. She highlighted the unifying nature of sport as a powerful global experience.

Throughout her career, Kennedy has contributed to major film productions, including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” She co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg, which produced classics such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and the “Back to the Future” trilogy. Her own production company with Marshall was behind films like “The Sixth Sense,” “Seabiscuit,” and “Lincoln.”