One of the strangest features of the American political landscape is, having fought a war to ostensibly throw off hereditary monarchy, it allows deep political dynasties to maintain a hold on the levers of power. The Clintons, the Bush family, now the Obama clan all follow arguably the most famous of them all, the Kennedy dynasty.
Now, Netflix and Chernin Entertainment are creating Kennedy, a new drama series about the triumphs and tragedies of this dynasty, with Michael Fassbender reportedly cast as patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr.
The series will run for eight-episodes. According to the blurb it will reveal:
“…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.”
Kennedy will be based on Fredrik Logevall’s book JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.
Joe Kennedy Sr. in his time was Chairman of the SEC, director of the United States Maritime Commission, and the U.S. Ambassador to the UK. This telling will begin in the 1930s telling the story of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack.
Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex) serves as showrunner with Thomas Vinterberg directing. Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Kaitlin Dahill, Eric Roth, Lila Byock, Anya Epstein, Dustin Thomason, and Anna O’Malley executive produce.
