Katie Holmes Is Jacqueline Kennedy in New Mini-Series

Even before Katie Holmes married Tom Cruise, word in the industry had it that he wanted her to be less of an actress and more of a housewife. Whether that was true or not no one knows, but soon enough, Katie became a mother and she went on an official break. As of late, she’s been slowly making her way back on the scene – and fans will soon be able to see her as Jacqueline Kenney in a brand new mini-series for the History Channel, Variety reports.

Talk of Katie being chosen for the part first started to make the rounds a few days ago, when it was also said that this could actually be just what she needed right now, especially since she chose to take the aforementioned break after she did “Batman Begins,” which would have set her on a trail of blockbusters. Her involvement in the project has been confirmed, and she comes to join Barry Pepper and Tom Wilkinson. Greg Kinnear will star President John F. Kennedy in the mini-series, which will also aim to stir some debate.

“Greg Kinnear has signed on to star as President John F. Kennedy in History’s upcoming – and controversial – miniseries ‘The Kennedys.’ Kinnear will lead an all-star cast that also includes Katie Holmes as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Barry Pepper (‘Saving Private Ryan’) has been tapped to play Robert Kennedy and Tom Wilkinson (‘John Adams’) has signed on to appear as family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr.,” Variety writes of the stellar cast.

“‘The Kennedys’ will run as an eight-hour scripted miniseries on History in 2011. Project reps History’s first scripted mini. […] ‘The Kennedys’ will explore the personal relationships between the Kennedy clan – including John’s and Bobby’s tumultuous relationship with their father. Exec producer Joel Surnow is behind ‘The Kennedys,’ along with Asylum’s Jonathan Koch and Steve Michaels. Steve Kronish is writing the screenplay, while Jon Cassar will direct. Kronish and Cassar are alums of ‘24,’ which Surnow co-created,” the movie-oriented publication further says.

According to Nancy Dubuc, GM at History Channel, getting A-listers for such an A-list project was what they had in mind from the very start. With the addition of Holmes and Kinnear, they have managed to do just that, complete a wonderful cast. As also noted above, “The Kennedys” will air next year, in 2011.