Why ESPN walked away from Colin Kaepernick’s docuseries with Spike Lee
Spike Lee has confirmed that his docu-series about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is dead - for now. Here’s why ESPN cut ties.
The highly anticipated Spike Lee–directed docuseries about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, once set for ESPN Films, has been scrapped due to “creative differences”. Both ESPN and the filmmakers confirmed the decision, though specifics remain undisclosed.
“ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,” an ESPN spokesperson told The Athletic. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
Spike Lee and ESPN couldn’t agree on one thing
Reuters originally reported the news after Lee told them, “It’s not coming out - that’s all I can say.”
The multi-part project, tentatively titled “Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick,” had faced years of development delays. Reports suggest disagreements arose over whether the series should focus primarily on Kaepernick’s personal journey or take a broader look at Black athletes and social justice in sports.
The docuseries could still find a home elsewhere, but for now, ESPN has walked away. The move contrasts sharply with Disney’s 2020 announcement of a partnership with Kaepernick. which said the “partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity, and will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers.”
Kaepernick, who last played in the NFL in 2016 after sparking controversy by kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest, remains a prominent cultural figure in the movement for social justice and against police brutality against Black people. The cancellation also comes at a time when ESPN is deepening financial ties with the NFL, raising questions about how such partnerships might affect its editorial decisions.
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