After “The Crown”, another grand historical series based on an influential family is taking shape at Netflix, which revealed the first look at "Kennedy", with Michael Fassbender leading as Joe Kennedy Sr., the patriarch of one of America's most infamous families.
Acclaimed Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg (”The Hunt", "Another Round") is directing the first and last episodes. Legendary screenwriter Eric Roth, known for "Forrest Gump", "The Insider", and "Munich" is one of the executive producers.
The limited series, set in the 1930s, will naturally revolve around some of the well-known figures associated with the senior Joe Kennedy and all the major names from his family who will go on to make the news for various reasons.
Among the lead characters include Laura Donnelly as Rose Kennedy, while Nick Robinson plays Joe Kennedy Jr. and Joshua Melnick plays Jack Kennedy. Lydia Peckham has been cast as Rosemary Kennedy, and Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Kathleen Cavendish (aka Kick Kennedy). Imogen Poots is essaying legendary actress Gloria Swanson of "Sunset Boulevard" fame. Eddie Marsan is part of the cast in the role of J. Edgar Hoover.
The show is based on Fredrik Logevall’s book "JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956." Sam Shaw ("Castle Rock", "Masters of Sex") is handling dual responsibilities as showrunner and executive producer.
“The story of the Kennedys is the closest we have to American mythology — somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful,” said Shaw in an official statement for Netflix. “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.”
As per the official logline, the show 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 the rebellious second son, Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden-boy older brother."
Vinterberg, who last directed the miniseries “Families Like Ours”, is also working on the series “The Brothers Lionheart”, on which he is a co-creator.