Spike Lee, Colin Kaepernick, and ESPN will not air a docuseries about the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and his stance against racial injustice and police brutality nearly a decade ago.
“ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,” ESPN said in a statement to Heavy Sports. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
Reuters first reported the news on Aug. 16. Lee, on the red carpet ahead of a fundraiser for cancer research and treatment in Beverly Hills, California, told the outlet that he couldn’t share anything because he had signed a nondisclosure agreement.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 21: (L-R) Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee attend The Gordon Parks Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner And Auction Celebrating The Arts & Social Justice at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 21, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images the Gordon Parks Foundation)
“It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say,” the Oscar-winning director said. “I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”
Colin Kaepernick Sparked Debate in the U.S.
Kaepernick began his protest during the preseason of the 2016-17 NFL season. He first sat down on the bench in protest during the U.S. national anthem but switched to a knee after consulting a Green Beret.
The image of him kneeling on Sept. 1, 2016, is considered one of the “most iconic images of the 21st century,” according to a summary of Kaepernick’s impact by the 49ers.
GettySAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers takes a knee on the sidelines as military personnel hold a flag during the singing of the National Anthem before a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on September 1, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
What followed was a national debate as other athletes, across different sports, took a knee in protest to systemic racism against Black Americans. For a couple of years, NFL teams were consistently berated with questions about how they should handle the national anthem, with teams and owners recognizing the moment in different ways.
The Protest Drew the Ire of Donald Trump
At the same time, the act of kneeling, considered a political movement, triggered a reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming his words towards players following Kaepernick, who had parted ways with the 49ers in March 2017 after leading them to the NFC Championship Game twice, winning once.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a (explicit) off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” the president said at a September 2017 rally.
“You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it (but) they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”
Colin Kaepernick has been Tied to NFL Teams in Years Since
Kaepernick, 37, would never be signed to an NFL contract or play in an NFL game again. His activism was considered a key reason why teams were wary of signing him. He filed a collusion grievance against team owners, which was settled confidentially with the league in February 2019.
In the years since his final game, Kaepernick had a scheduled workout with NFL teams in November 2019 that fell apart over disagreements on making the event public. He worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022, and Jim Harbaugh, in his first year as Los Angeles Chargers head coach in 2024, floated signing Kaepernick as an assistant coach.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 21: (L-R) Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee attend The Gordon Parks Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner And Auction Celebrating The Arts & Social Justice at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 21, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images the Gordon Parks Foundation)
Production on the docuseries began in 2022, with ESPN touting the project as a “full, first-person account” of Kaepernick’s journey with extensive interviews. In September, Puck News reported that Kaepernick and Lee had disagreements over the direction of the film, and ESPN was open to allowing them to air it elsewhere.
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