Rob Lowe Will Play John F. Kennedy In National Geographic’s `Killing Kennedy’

Hot off his recent appearance as a pill-pushing plastic surgeon in HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra,” Rob Lowe is next set to star as John F. Kennedy in “Killing Kennedy,” a made-for-TV movie that is being produced by National Geographic. “Killing Kennedy” will be broadcast on the on the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

This is the second time this year that Rob Lowe has worked on a National Geographic project; the “Parks and Recreation” star also recently narrated the six-part miniseries “The ’80s: The Decade That Made Us.”

National Geographic will be producing and broadcasting the two-hour factual made-for-television movie. “Killing Kennedy” will also star Ginnifer Goodwin as former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Trachtenberg as Lee Harvey Oswald’s Russian wife Marina. The movie will premiere on the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Ginnifer Goodwin is best known for her role in “Once Upon a Time.” Michelle Trachtenberg first came to fame as Buffy’s semi-existent sister in WB TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The part of Lee Harvey Oswald has not been cast.

Howard T. Owens, president of the National Geographic Channels, said in a statement, "We are thrilled to be working with Rob Lowe, Ginnifer Goodwin and Michelle Trachtenberg, three gifted artists whom have responded to this timely, authentic and entertaining material. With 'Killing Kennedy,' timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, National Geographic Channel continues to bring daring, culturally significant television events to our growing global audience."

“Killing Kennedy” starts in 1959 and goes through the final years of the president and his assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

“Killing Kennedy” will be directed by Nelson McCormick. The screenplay was written by Kelly Masterson. Production begins in Richmond, Va., in June. “Killing Kennedy” is a sequel based on National Geographic’s “Killing Lincoln,” It is based on the best-selling book by Fox’s Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. When National Geographic previously aired the Bill O’Reilly-penned “Killing Lincoln,” it became the most-watched program in the channel’s history. National Geographic also recently announced plans to adapt O’Reilly’s next book, “Killing Jesus.”