Director Spike Lee is teaming with Colin Kaepernick for a docuseries about the former NFL quarterback’s life, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
ESPN Films announced that Lee would use never-before-seen footage from Kaepernick’s archive to provide “a full, first-person account of his journey,” The Associated Press reported.
Lee will direct and produce the project, which is part of a deal Kaepernick and his Ra Vision Media signed with ESPN parent company Disney in 2020. Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill is also a producer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Kaepernick, 34, led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens after the 2013 season. He threw for 302 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score, but the 49ers lost 34-31.
Kaepernick has not played pro football since 2016, the year he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, the AP reported. He has yet to receive another pro contract, despite the NFL encouraging teams to look at the quarterback.
The multi-part documentary will feature Kaepernick giving “a full, first-person account of his journey,” which includes growing up as the mixed-race son of white adoptive parents, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It also will focus on his college and pro career and his eventual release.
Kaepernick’s early life was chronicled in the Netflix series “Colin in Black and White,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lee and ESPN Films have worked together before, collaborating on the 2009 documentary about the late Lakers star Kobe Bryant, “Kobe Doin’ Work,” which followed the NBA legend over a single day during the 2007-08 NBA season.
Here are some memorable photos of film director Spike Lee through the years.
1988: Jesse Jackson Jr., left, son of presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, shown with film director Spike Lee at a luncheon with the candidate at Sylvia’s restaurant in the Harlem section of New York on April 10, 1988.
1991: Film director Spike Lee is seen in California on June 3, 1991.
1994: Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, left, receives a small statue from filmmaker Spike Lee during ceremonies honoring Jordan at the United Center in Chicago, Nov. 1, 1994. Jordan’s No. 23 jersey was retired by the Bulls and a 12-foot bronze statue of Jordan was unveiled outside the center.
1997: Film director Spike Lee looks on during a game between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 21, 1997. The Bulls won the game, 88-87.
1999: Film cirector Spike Lee cheers on the St. John’s Red Storm during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, on Jan. 24, 1999. The Blue Devils defeated the Red Storm 92-88.
2000: President Clinton and director Spike Lee chat May 22, 2000, in Washington, D.C.
2001: Director Spike Lee and Gordon Parks at the reception prior to the Gordon Parks Independent Film Awards for African American Filmmakers at the Directors Guild of America Theater in New York City on October 3, 2001.
2002: Directors Guild of America President Martha Coolidge, honoree Spike Lee and presenter Halle Barry pose for photographers after the third annual Directors Guild of America Awards on June 9, 2002, in New York City.
2003: Director Spike Lee receives the Hall of Fame Award at the 34th NAACP Image Awards at the Universal Amphitheater on March 8, 2003, in Los Angeles.
2004: Actor and member of the jury Spike Lee attends "The Terminal" Opening Night Premiere with his wife Tanya Lynette Lewis and children at the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2004, in Venice, Italy.
2005: Director Spike Lee answers questions during a book signing for "That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It" at Harlem’s Hue-Man book store October 13, 2005, in New York City.
2006: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and director Spike Lee arrive at the GQ magazine 2006 Men of the Year dinner celebrating the 11th annual Men of the Year issue at the Sunset Tower Hotel on November 29, 2006, in West Hollywood, California.
2007: Tennis player Serena Williams, director Spike Lee and musician Alicia Keys pose for a photo during a party hosted by Keep a child Alive for the premiere of "We Are Together" at the Tribeca Grand Hotel during the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2007, in New York City.
2008: Director Spike Lee waves to the crowd during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 16, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 116-114.
2009: Comedian Chris Rock talks with director Spike Lee during the game between the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2009, in New York.
2010: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and director Spike Lee watch warms-ups on the field prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints on February 7, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
2011: Actor Will Ferrell and director Spike Lee attend the Moet Suite at the U.S. Open on September 10, 2011, in New York.
2012: Director Spike Lee (second from left) with his son Jackson Lee, wife Tonya Lewis Lee and daughter Satchel Lee as they attend the "Bad25" Premiere and Jaeger Le Coultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award Ceremony during the 69th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema on August 31, 2012, in Venice, Italy.
2013: Director Spike Lee and singer Alicia Keys talk during the Taco Bell Skills Challenge part of 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend at the Toyota Center on February 16, 2013, in Houston.
2014: Filmmaker Spike Lee (right) and Tonya Lewis Lee attend the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014, in West Hollywood, California.
2015: Filmmaker Spike Lee accepts an award onstage during the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ seventh annual Governors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 14, 2015, in Hollywood, California.
2016: Tonya Lewis Lee, Tennis Player Serena Williams, guest and director Spike Lee attend the EPIX New York Premiere of ‘Serena’ on June 13, 2016, in New York City.
2017: Allan Houston, Jason Negron, Bernard King, John Starks and Spike Lee at the launch of Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia Hardwood Edition. A limited-edition bottle encased in the original Knicks court to celebrate some of the most iconic moments ever played. on November 16, 2017, at the Pool in New York City.
2018: Spike Lee (left) and Tonya Lewis Lee attend the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
2019: Spike Lee (right), director and producer, celebrates a point during the Women’s Singles final match between Serena Williams of the United States and Bianca Andreescu of Canada on day thirteen of the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2019, in the Queens borough of New York City.
2020: Tonya Lewis Lee and filmmaker Spike Lee attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 9, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
2021: Jury president Spike Lee, Jury members Tahar Rahim, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Hausner and Mélanie Laurent on stage during the closing ceremony of the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 17, 2021, in Cannes, France.
