Netflix’s JFK Series Snags Oscar-Nominated Director in Major Move
Two years after first being revealed, Netflix’s long-gestating John F. Kennedy miniseries is finally moving forward, landing an Oscar-nominated director to steer the untitled adaptation of Fredrik Logevall’s 2020 biography JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956.
Netflix has quietly moved its long-gestating JFK project forward again — finally. Two years after it first bubbled up, the streamer is now lining up some serious talent for its untitled John F. Kennedy miniseries based on Fredrik Logevall’s acclaimed 2020 book 'JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956'.
The director you probably wanted for this
Per World of Reel, Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg is set to direct the series. Yes, that Thomas Vinterberg — the 'Another Round' director whose 2020 Mads Mikkelsen collaboration landed him his first Oscar nomination for Best Director. If you’re going to do early-life JFK as prestige TV, that choice makes a lot of sense.
The script has real awards DNA
Vinterberg will be working from a screenplay by Eric Roth. You know Roth’s work: 'Forrest Gump', 'A Star Is Born', 'Dune'. The guy has a knack for turning big American arcs into crowd-pleasing (and awards-friendly) drama.
What Netflix is actually making here
This started life as a movie, according to the outlet’s sources, but Netflix ultimately reshaped it into an eight-episode miniseries. The plan is to start production in 2026. The story tracks Kennedy from his childhood through his rise to young senator from Massachusetts — lining up with the timeline in Logevall’s book (1917–1956). When this was first floated back in 2023, it was pitched as an American version of 'The Crown', which gives you a sense of the ambition and scope.
The Kennedy TV wave is not just a Netflix thing
Also on the way (but for FX, not Netflix): Ryan Murphy is currently filming the first season of his new anthology series 'Love Story'. The inaugural run centers on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, played by Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon. Different network, different generation of Kennedys, same fascination.
What we know so far
- Project: Untitled JFK miniseries at Netflix
- Source material: Fredrik Logevall’s 2020 book 'JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956'
- Director: Thomas Vinterberg ('Another Round', Oscar nominee for Best Director)
- Writer: Eric Roth ('Forrest Gump', 'A Star Is Born', 'Dune')
- Format: Eight-episode limited series (originally developed as a feature)
- Timeline covered: Childhood through JFK’s years as a young Massachusetts senator
- Production: Netflix is aiming to start in 2026
- Initial positioning: Described in 2023 as an American 'The Crown'
- Related project: Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology 'Love Story', first season about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (starring Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon), is currently filming
- Sourcing: The latest director news comes via World of Reel
Short version: Netflix’s JFK series finally has a heavyweight director and a prestige-friendly writer, it’s now a full-on limited series instead of a movie, and production is on the books for 2026. It took a minute, but this one’s shaping up to be a big swing.