ESPN, Colin Kaepernick, and Spike Lee End Docuseries Collaboration

A highly anticipated docuseries on former NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick, directed by award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, will no longer air on ESPN.

In a statement shared with Variety, ESPN confirmed that the network, Kaepernick, and Lee “collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences.”

The project, first announced in 2022, was set to explore Kaepernick’s life, career, and activism, including his decision to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice—an act that sparked a nationwide conversation and cemented his place as one of sports’ most polarizing figures.

“Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film,” ESPN’s statement continued.

Reuters first reported the news after Spike Lee confirmed the project’s cancellation during a red carpet event in Beverly Hills, Calif. “It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say,” the Do the Right Thing filmmaker told the outlet. When asked to elaborate, Lee declined, citing a nondisclosure agreement: “I can’t. I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”

While the cancellation ends this particular partnership, interest in Kaepernick’s story remains high. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has remained a central figure in discussions around sports, race, and social justice, with his activism continuing to resonate well beyond the football field.