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Netflix has officially announced an eight-part drama series called Kennedy, wherein Michael Fassbender portrays Joseph Kennedy Sr., the powerful head of the Kennedy clan.
Concerning the family tree’s unlikely rise and the personal and political factors that decided their fate, the series will start in the 1930s and take from historian Fredrik Logevall’s non-fictional book JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.
Though shooting will not take place until 2026, insiders predict a 2027 Netflix debut based on production schedules.
The Kennedy family, frequently dubbed the US's unofficial royal dynasty, has gone through ups and downs that have determined the US history. Joe Kennedy Sr., a rich businessman and political tactician, married Rose Fitzgerald, who was the daughter of Boston’s mayor, and fathered nine children, including the future President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy.
Netflix’s Kennedy will not only tell the story of the scions of the Kennedy family but also give an insight into their personal lives through a lens of grandeur and intimate realism. Director Thomas Vinterberg helms the series, and the showrunner is Sam Shaw.
Michael Fassbender leads Netflix’s Kennedy series
According to the Netflix announcement, the eight-part Netflix series casts Michael Fassbender in the role of Joseph Kennedy Sr., the patriarch of the Kennedy family. The series is based on Fredrik Logevall’s JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 and will delve into the Kennedys’ ascendancy, passions, feuds, and misfortunes starting in the 1930s.
It is set to be directed by Oscar winner Thomas Vinterberg and produced under the showrunner Sam Shaw, with an overall shooting schedule for 2026 and a premiere in 2027. The rest of the cast remains under wraps, which includes the portrayals of Rose Kennedy and the nine Kennedy children.
Speaking with Tudum, Sam Shaw stated:
“The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology — somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful”
Shaw added:
“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.”
The official Netflix synopsis notes a grand, character-centered story that will depict the rise of Joe and Rose Kennedy, putting a spotlight on family interactions, the burdens of inheritance, and the socio-political situation of the United States in the middle of the century.
The initial season is likely to take the audience through the formative years of the Kennedy children: Joseph Jr., John ‘Jack’ Kennedy, Rose, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert ‘Bobby,’ Jean, and Edward ‘Ted’.
Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, who is best known for Another Round and The Hunt, is set to be the director and will be supported by an incredible lineup of executive producers consisting of Eric Roth and Peter Chernin. Michael Fassbender, who has delivered great performances in Steve Jobs and 12 Years a Slave, was chosen because of his ability to convey the full spectrum of emotions.
With the return of the Kennedys in the spotlight of pop culture, the series is going to be released at just the right time, and it should not be confused with Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story, which will spotlight the JFK Jr. story and is slated to be on FX in 2026.
The Kennedy family through history
The Kennedy family's history is deeply intertwined with personal drama and public influence. Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald tied the knot in 1914 and set up a legacy that was a mix of political aspirations, luxury, and hardships.
The firstborn son, Joseph Jr., was trained for leadership but met his end in WWII; John F. Kennedy, the second son, was the 35th US President and was shot dead in 1963 in Dallas. The youngest brother, serving for both as Attorney General and New York Senator, was assassinated during his presidential candidacy in 1968.
The family's “curse” became more evident with the ill-fated plane crash that claimed the lives of JFK Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren in 1999.
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The Kennedys left a lasting mark through their advocacy and public service. Eunice Kennedy Shriver managed to set up the Special Olympics, Ted Kennedy was nicknamed the “Lion of the Senate,” and both Rose and Kathleen were involved in philanthropy.
The upcoming series, through the use of archival material and the lives of the characters, will bring forth lesser-known stories, internal conflicts, and the still-existing question: What is the reality of America’s royal family underneath the myth?
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