ESPN has dropped Spike Lee‘s forthcoming multi-part documentary series about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The sports network confirmed to Reuters that they will not to broadcast the series, which Lee is directing.
“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 Reuters. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
Lee told Reuters a day earlier that the series was “not coming out.” He confirmed that he is not at liberty to discuss the details, telling the news service on Friday, “I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”
ESPN Films announced a docuseries centered on Kaepernick, who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016, in 2022. The network said that Lee would weave never-before-seen footage from Kaepernick’s archive to provide “a full, first-person account of his journey.” At the time, Kaepernick tweeted, “I’m grateful to be able to work with the legend Spike Lee on my docu-series.” He added, “It’s time for the narrative to be corrected.”
Kaepernick ignited a national debate in 2016 when he knelt during the U.S. national anthem to protest systemic racism and police brutality. He drew significant criticism from Donald Trump, and hasn’t played for an NFL team since that season. In 2019, Kaepernick settled a collusion grievance with the league he had filed in 2017. The details of the agreement were not disclosed.
In September, Puck News reported the series faced delays due disagreements between Kaepernick and Lee over the direction of the film. They added that ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro was open to allowing Lee and producer Jemele Hill in to shop it elsewhere.
Lee’s most recent film, Highest 2 Lowest, arrived in theaters earlier this month. The film reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 effort, High and Low, and stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky.
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