Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy takes charge of LA28 ceremonies

Film producer Kathleen Kennedy has been chosen to oversee the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics in the Los Angeles area, according to LA28.

Kennedy will serve as head of ceremonies and content for the organising committee. The title covers the shows staged for the Games, from the first night to the last.

She is an Oscar-nominated producer and has worked as a producer on the Star Wars films, as Yahoo Sports reported. Her new role takes her from the cinema screen to the stadium floor.

The opening ceremony is set for 14 July 2028. It will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium. Kennedy will also lead the team designing the closing ceremony, along with both ceremonies for the Paralympics, which begin about a month after the Olympics end, Billboard reported.

Peter Rice held the head of ceremonies and content post before her. He will stay on with the team as an executive producer.

The Games will also make history for the city. Los Angeles will become the third city to host the Olympic Games three times, a milestone the Associated Press reported when the city was awarded the 2028 Games in 2024.

For anyone planning to watch, the dates are now fixed: the Olympic opening ceremony on 14 July 2028, and the Paralympic ceremonies to follow about a month later. The people who will build those nights, from designers to technical crews, are now part of a clearer timetable.