A controversial miniseries on the Kennedy family will not air on the History Channel because the completed multimillion dollar project does not fit the "History brand," the network said.
The eight-part series drew criticism during its production from figures such as former Kennedy administration aide Theodore Sorenson, who attacked the scripts as inaccurate. The role of producer Joel Surnow, a political conservative, also drew suspicion from fans of the Kennedy family.
"We have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand," the network said in a statement late Friday. The decision was first reported Friday by the Hollywood Reporter.
History said the decision was made after viewing the entire series, which stars Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes as President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie.
"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," History said in a statement.
The decision was reminiscent of CBS' 2003 decision not to air a miniseries based on the life of President Ronald Reagan, which had also attracted political controversy prior to airing. The series later aired on the Showtime pay cable network.