EXCLUSIVE: Laura Donnelly (The Nevers, Sugar) is set to star opposite Michael Fassbender in Kennedy, Netflix‘s drama series that explores the lives, loves, rivalries and tragedies of the Kennedy family. Nick Robinson (A Teacher, Maid) and newcomer Joshuah Melnick also have been cast as a series regulars in the series from Chernin Entertainment, which is based on Fredrik Logevall’s book, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.
Fassbender stars as Joe Kennedy, Sr., Donnelly as his wife Rose Kennedy, Robinson portrays their son Joe Kennedy Jr., and Melnick plays as younger son Jack Kennedy.
They are joined by a recurring cast that includes Ben Miles (Andor, The Crown) as Eddie Moore, longtime aide to Joe Kennedy Sr.; Lydia Peckham (Robin Hood, Nuremberg) as Rosemary Kennedy, Joe and Rose’s eldest daughter; Saura Lightfoot-Leon (The Agency, American Primeval) as Kick Kennedy, JFK and RFK’s sister; Cole Doman (The Mastermind, Mutt) as JFK’s best friend Lem Billings and Imogen Poots (The Chronology of Water, All of You) as Gloria Swanson.
From showrunner Sam Shaw and director Thomas Vinterberg, Kennedy begins in the 1930s. The 8-episode first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.
L-R: Ben Miles plays Eddie Moore, Lydia Peckham plays Rosemary Kennedy, Saura Lightfoot-Leon plays Kick Kennedy and Cole Doman plays Lem Billings
Andrew Ogilvy/Getty/Josh Winger/David Reiss/David Goddard
Shaw executive produces alongside Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kaitlin Dahill for Chernin Entertainment, Eric Roth, Fredrik Logevall, Lila Byock, Anya Epstein, Dustin Thomason, Vinterberg and Anna O’Malley.
Melnick is repped by Brookside Artist Management, Aperture Talent Agency, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.