Michael Fassbender to Play Joe Kennedy Sr. in Netflix’s Upcoming Series
Netflix is developing a new series that will take viewers inside the lives of the Kennedy family, with Michael Fassbender set to play patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. The eight-episode project, titled Kennedy, was announced on Monday, October 20, and will be based on Fredrik Logevall’s book JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.
According to Netflix, the show will explore “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.”
The series will begin in the 1930s and focus on Joe and Rose Kennedy raising their nine children. The storyline will highlight John F. Kennedy, referred to as Jack, as he struggles to step out of the shadow of his older brother.
Michael Fassbender will star as Joe Kennedy Sr. in KENNEDY — a new series tracing the lives, loves, rivalries, and tragedies of the most iconic dynasty in modern history.
— Netflix (@netflix) October 20, 2025
Beginning in the 1930s, the first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine… pic.twitter.com/vPqWwUfwTt
Showrunner Sam Shaw described the story as “somewhere between Shakespeare and The Bold and the Beautiful,” and said Logevall’s biography “pulls a veil on the human strivings and burdens behind the myth.”
Shaw added, “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.”
Joe and Rose Kennedy had nine children, including John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Edward “Ted” Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy Jr., Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, and Jean. Their story has fascinated the public for decades, and the Netflix series promises to bring new insight into the family’s personal lives and historical impact.
This announcement comes as another Kennedy-related series, Ryan Murphy’s American Love Story, is currently in production.
That series will focus on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s romance, starring Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy, Paul Kelly as JFK Jr., and Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette. The couple married privately in 1996 on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and tragically died in a plane crash in 1999.
This Netflix series looks to provide a detailed, intimate look at one of America’s most famous families. With Michael Fassbender leading the cast and a story spanning decades, fans can expect a mix of personal drama and historical events brought to life on screen.
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