For the Canadian specialty channel’s first-ever scripted series, Canwest’s History Television is teaming up with its US counterpart History on a glitzy eight-part drama about an American institution: The Kennedys.

The drama is set to air in 2011 and will shoot in Toronto from June through September of this year. A star-studded cast is already in place, including Greg Kinnear as JFK, Katie Holmes as Jackie O, Tom Wilkinson as Joe Kennedy and Barry Pepper as Robert Kennedy.

The series will be produced by Montreal-based Muse Entertainment and was developed by 24 creators Stephen Kronish and Joel Surnow.

History in the US is owned by A&E Television Networks.