ESPN Nixes Spike Lee’s Colin Kaepernick Documentary, Less Than 2 Weeks After NFL Took 10% Ownership Stake In Channel

ESPN and Spike Lee announced NFL Films will no longer be moving forward with Lee’s upcoming documentary series about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who made headlines in 2016 for kneeling during the national anthem in protest against systemic racism.

Lee revealed the unfinished multi-part documentary will not be airing on ESPN during a red carpet appearance Aug. 15.

“It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say,” he told Reuters. Lee did not elaborate further as he said, “I can’t. I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”

ESPN later confirmed the news in a statement. “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. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”

The documentary was first announced in 2020 as part of Kaepernick’s first-look deal with Walt Disney. It was described as Kaepernick’s first opportunity to offer his own account of his journey, with “extensive new interviews and a vast never-before-seen archive to help Kaepernick tell his story from his perspective,” per Variety.

Production on the project began in 2022.

Kaepernick drew national backlash when he kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 in silent protest against police brutality. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016, but was unable to return to the NFL after he opted out of his contract in 2017 and was unable to land with a new team. He later privately settled with the NFL, claiming team owners colluded to keep him from playing.

This news comes just weeks after NFL inked a deal to own a minority of 10% in the Disney-owned sports outlet, giving ESPN more control over NFL Network, the NFL RedZone and more.

But Variety reports that the decision to nix the project was made last summer “and had nothing to do with the NFL,” according to a source close to the project.

Puck News reported in September 2024 that the “nearly finished” project was suffering multiple delays due to Kaepernick and Lee’s creative differences. It also cited Lee’s schedule as a factor, as well.

The outlet reports that ESPN CEO Jimmy Pitaro was willing to air the seven-part series in another year, however, Kaepernick and Lee were given the opportunity to shop it elsewhere if they wanted it to premiere sooner.

For now, it appears the documentary will remain on the shelf. Kaepernick’s adolescence was later adapted for the screen in the Ava Duvernay-directed Netflix series, Colin in Black and White.