A highly anticipated docuseries about Colin Kaepernick, directed by Spike Lee and produced in collaboration with ESPN Films, has officially been shelved. The project, which promised to deliver an intimate, multi-part exploration of Kaepernick’s journey as an NFL quarterback turned activist, will no longer be released, due to what has been described as “creative differences.”
The documentary was first announced in 2022. ESPN, which is owned by Disney, pitched the series as a “full, first-person account” of Kaepernick’s life, including never-before-seen footage and extensive interviews. The series aimed to unpack the impact of his activism, particularly his decision to kneel during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and systemic racism.
But despite the momentum, both ESPN and Lee confirmed this weekend that the project is no longer moving forward.
“It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say,” Lee told Reuters on the red carpet of the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation gala in Beverly Hills. “I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”
“ESPN, Colin Kaepernick, and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,” ESPN told Reuters in a statement on Saturday. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
While neither party has elaborated publicly on the specifics of the breakdown, Puck News previously reported that tensions between Lee and Kaepernick emerged over the direction of the series.
Despite the setback, it appears there’s no bad blood, at least not publicly. A representative for Kaepernick stated the quarterback had “no comment” on the situation as of Saturday.
Interestingly, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro had reportedly been open to the idea of allowing the team to shop the project elsewhere, but it remains unclear if that’s still on the table.
The cancellation is particularly disappointing for many who saw the project as a chance to revisit and reframe the narrative around one of the most polarizing figures in modern sports history.
Kaepernick, now 37, hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, the year he began kneeling during the anthem. Though many believed his activism cost him his career, it also cemented him as a symbol of resistance and social justice. He later filed a collusion grievance against NFL team owners, which was settled in 2019.
While he has remained active through philanthropic work and select media appearances, fans had hoped this documentary would offer a more personal, unfiltered look at Kaepernick’s life and legacy.
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