Netflix plots american dynasty drama with fassbender in 'kennedy'
Netflix is betting big on a familiar formula: sprawling family saga, opulent production design, and a deep dive into the lives of the powerful. Their latest gamble? Kennedy, a limited series spearheaded by acclaimed Danish director Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt, Another Round) and starring Michael Fassbender as the notoriously complex patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. The first official image—a striking portrait of Fassbender embodying Kennedy’s steely gaze—has already ignited considerable buzz.
A 'crown' equivalent across the atlantic
Kennedy aims to capture the scope and intrigue of Netflix’s juggernaut, The Crown, but with a distinctly American lens. The series, adapted from Fredrik Logevall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956, will trace the Kennedy family’s ascent to prominence, beginning in the 1930s. It promises to unravel the intimate lives, loves, rivalries, and tragedies that shaped one of America's most influential families—and, as the synopsis suggests, helped forge the modern world.
The narrative kicks off with the burgeoning relationship between Joe (Fassbender) and Rose Kennedy, and their nine children, including the charismatic, yet troubled, Jack, perpetually battling to escape the shadow of his older brother. The ensemble cast is equally impressive, featuring Laura Donnelly (The Wolf Pack), Nick Robinson (The Affair), Joshua Melnick (Tesla), Ben Miles (Death by Lightning), Lydia Peckham (Demolition), Saura Lightfoot Leon (Air Masters), Cole Doman (The Mastermind), and Imogen Poots (Hedda).
Vinterberg’s involvement is particularly noteworthy; his ability to blend dark humor with profound emotional depth, as demonstrated in Another Round, suggests Kennedy won’t shy away from the family’s complexities and contradictions. While the early word is promising, the series faces the challenge of living up to the colossal legacy of The Crown—a bar set incredibly high. Whether it can deliver the same level of nuanced storytelling and captivating drama remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Netflix is clearly positioning Kennedy as a major event.