Netflix is developing a new series centered on the Kennedy family, one of the most influential dynasties in American history. The project, titled Kennedy, will be led by Michael Fassbender, cast as patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a key figure in building the family’s power and legacy.
The series will consist of eight episodes and is conceived as an anthology project aimed at exploring different phases of the Kennedy story over time. At the moment, no official release date has been announced, although the production is moving into its next stages.
A series about the origins of the Kennedy power
At the core of the narrative is the rise of Joseph Kennedy Sr., a businessman and diplomat who played a decisive role in shaping the family’s trajectory. Through his story, the series examines the political, economic, and personal dynamics that contributed to the formation of one of the most recognizable dynasties of the 20th century.
Furthermore, the story unfolds from the 1930s onward, following the evolution of the Kennedy household, including Joe, his wife Rose, and their nine children. Among them stands out John F. Kennedy, who would later become one of the most prominent presidents in U.S. history.
Ensemble cast and production team
Alongside Fassbender, the project brings together a broad ensemble cast including Wyatt Russell, Eddie Marsan, and Denis O’Hare. The story also features major historical figures such as Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and J. Edgar Hoover, anchoring the narrative within a wider geopolitical framework.
Behind the camera, Thomas Vinterberg directs all episodes, bringing his award-winning vision to the project. Meanwhile, the script is penned by Eric Roth, Academy Award winner for Forrest Gump. At the same time, the series draws inspiration from JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956 by Fredrik Logevall, which explores the early life of John F. Kennedy and the environment that shaped his trajectory.
Structurally, Kennedy is conceived as an anthology designed to unfold over multiple seasons. Each chapter will focus on a different phase of the family’s history, following the evolution of relationships and the gradual consolidation of their political power.
Between private life and public history
Kennedy aims to balance personal storytelling with historical context. On one hand, it focuses on family relationships, ambitions, and internal conflicts; on the other, it situates these elements within the broader political and social transformations of the time.
As a result, the series offers a layered perspective on the origins and evolution of the dynasty, expanding the narrative beyond the family sphere and placing the Kennedys within a wider historical framework.
Photo Credits: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
