Spike Lee says ESPN won't air his Colin Kaepernick series
The eight-part series, directed by Oscar-winner Spike Lee, was announced in 2022 and promoted as a first-person account of Kaepernick's journey from NFL star to civil rights figure. But on Saturday, Aug. 16, both ESPN and Lee said the project had been canceled due to 'creative differences.'
'ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,' the network said in a statement. 'Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.'
Lee revealed the news the night before, on Friday, Aug. 15, while attending a fundraiser in Beverly Hills.
'It's not coming out. That's all I can say,' he told Reuters, citing a nondisclosure agreement that barred him from elaborating.
The project had already encountered setbacks. In 2023, Puck News reported that Lee and Kaepernick had disagreed over the film's direction, delaying production. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro was reportedly open to allowing the filmmakers to shop the series elsewhere.
Kaepernick, now 37, has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season. The 49ers released him in 2017, citing football-related reasons, though many believe his political activism significantly influenced the league's decision to keep him unsigned.
'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now!' Trump told a crowd at a rally. 'Out! He's fired!'
Kaepernick later filed a collusion grievance against the NFL, which was settled in 2019.
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