Spike Lee confirms mutual decision to cancel long-awaited Kaepernick docuseries due to creative differences after years of development.
A highly anticipated, multi-episode documentary series for ESPN Films featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been officially canceled.
“After careful consideration, ESPN, Colin Kaepernick, and Spike Lee have mutually agreed to discontinue the project due to creative differences,” an ESPN representative confirmed to The Athletic. “While we couldn’t bring this project to completion, we value the collaborative efforts and dedication invested in this endeavor.”
The news was initially broken by Reuters on Saturday evening. The international news organization interviewed Lee during the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation gala, a cancer research and treatment fundraising event in Beverly Hills, California.
Spike Lee on the Red Carpet during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
When approached by Reuters, Lee stated simply, “It’s not happening. That’s all I’m able to share.”
Upon further questioning about the reasons, Lee referenced a nondisclosure agreement that prevented him from elaborating.
An insider familiar with the situation verified to The Athletic that creative differences led to the project’s termination, though they couldn’t provide specific details, indicating that the parties involved failed to align their visions throughout the years of development. Sources suggest the series could potentially find a home with another network.
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Reports of production delays have circulated for years regarding the docuseries, which had been provisionally titled “Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick.” In a 2023 interview with The Washington Post, Lee explained, “We’re continuing our work. When Kap reached out about directing, I immediately said ‘yes.’ However, these things require time. This project would give him the platform to share his complete narrative.”
Last September, Puck’s Matt Belloni detailed apparent creative tensions regarding the series’ focus, specifically between highlighting Kaepernick’s personal journey versus presenting a broader examination of Black athletes’ history in professional sports and social activism. The project’s cancellation comes just three weeks before the NFL season begins.
Within this context, ESPN recently secured rights to the NFL Network and significant access to RedZone, along with other content assets, with the NFL receiving a 10 percent stake in ESPN in return. A key consideration moving forward will be ESPN’s approach to covering its financial partner. The agreement still awaits regulatory approval from the Trump administration.
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This development stands in sharp contrast to the initial relationship between Disney and Kaepernick. In 2020, the Walt Disney Company announced a first-look agreement with Kaepernick’s production company through an enthusiastic press release. Disney announced that 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.”
“Colin brings an exceptional viewpoint on how sports, culture, and racial issues intersect,” remarked Disney executive chairman Bob Iger during the announcement. “This unique perspective will undoubtedly yield powerful narratives that will not only educate and enlighten but also entertain audiences, and we’re enthusiastic about this significant partnership.”
Throughout his six-season tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick demonstrated impressive statistics, accumulating 12,271 passing yards, 72 touchdown passes, and 30 interceptions. His versatility as a dual-threat quarterback was evident in his 2,300 rushing yards and 13 ground touchdowns. Under his leadership, the team reached the Super Bowl in 2013, and he maintained a 28-30 record as starting quarterback.
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Kaepernick’s final NFL appearance came in 2016, when he initiated his protest against racial injustice and police brutality targeting Black individuals by kneeling during the national anthem. Despite consistently expressing his desire to return to professional football, he has remained unsigned by NFL teams.
Source:
Richard Deitsch and Andrew Marchand (August 18, 2025). Spike Lee’s Colin Kaepernick docuseries no longer coming to ESPN, ‘creative differences’ cited. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6558595/2025/08/17/spike-lee-colin-kaepernick-docu-series-espn/
Header Image: Spike Lee at the American Pavilion during Cannes 2025 after premiere of his film Highest 2 Lowest
Photo credit: Jennifer 8. Lee, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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