Before It Airs, History Channel Cancels The Kennedys

A&E Television Networks' The History Channel has canceled plans to air The Kennedys, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The eight-part miniseries, starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes as John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie Kennedy, was slated to air this spring. A multi-million dollar project developed by 24co-creator Joel Surnow, The Kennedys sparked controversy among the political left and some Kennedy historians when it was announced in December 2009. FormerJohn F. Kennedy adviserTheodore Sorenson called an early version of the script "vindictive" and "malicious" in a front-page New York Times story last February. The network later said the script had been revised and vetted by experts.

Can Katie Holmes pull off Jackie Kennedy?

History has now pulled the plug.

 "Upon completion of the production of The Kennedys, History has decided not to air the 8-part miniseries on the network," a rep for the channel said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter Friday. "While the film is produced and acted with the highest quality, after viewing the final product in its totality, we have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand." 

 "We recognize historical fiction is an important medium for storytelling and commend all the hard work and passion that has gone into the making of the series, but ultimately deem this as the right programming decision for our network," the rep said in the statement.

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The producers of The Kennedys may bring the miniseries to a pay cable channel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Check out the trailer for The Kennedys

Had you planned to watch The Kennedys?