Kinnear Is JFK, Holmes Is Jackie in History Channel Miniseries

Eight-hour “The Kennedys” will air in 2011, marking channel’s first foray into scripted drama

"Camelot" is coming to the History Channel.

The network unveiled a big-name cast for its eight-hour miniseries "The Kennedys" on Wednesday.

In a move that’s already generating some blow-back in the blogosphere, Greg Kinnear will star as John F. Kennedy and Katie Holmes (better known these days as Mrs. Tom Cruise) will star as another famous wife, Jackie O.

People just don’t seem to be feeling the lady Cruise in a pillbox hat.

Barry Pepper will play Robert Kennedy and Tom Wilkinson will play family patriarch Joseph Kennedy.

The miniseries is scheduled to air in 2011 and marks the channel’s first foray in scripted drama. It is also in keeping with the network’s move to broaden its audience and attract younger viewers — a decision that seemed to pay off earlier this week when the channel recorded its biggest ever ratings for Sunday’s premiere of "America: The Story of Us."

"The Kennedys" will be produced by Muse Entertainment in association with Asylum Entertainment. The series will be executive produced by Joel Surnow, Jonathan Koch, Steve Michaels, Michael Prupas, Jon Cassar and Jamie Paul Rock. For History, Nancy Dubuc, David McKillop and Dirk Hoogstra are executive producers.

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