Kaepernick Inks Deal With Disney To Develop Projects Across Multiple Platforms
On the heels of last week’s announcement (see below) that a scripted limited series on his teen years is in the works at Netflix, it has been revealed that Colin Kaepernick has signed a first-look deal with Disney.
The deal will include an ESPN Films documentary series on his life. Overall, the deal will see him develop projects across several Disney platforms and brands, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar, and ESPN’s The Undefeated.
“I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
“During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Company remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman. “Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture, and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration.”
“Colin has had a singular path as both an athlete and an activist, and, as the nation continues to confront racism and social injustice, it feels particularly relevant to hear Colin’s voice on his evolution and motivations,” said Jimmy Piatro, president of ESPN.
“Colin in Black & White”
On June 29, 2020, Netflix officially announced Colin in Black & White, an upcoming scripted limited series about the high school years of Colin Kaepernick from Ava DuVernay. News about a Kaepernick project from the filmmaker first surfaced in 2018 via a Vanity Fair profile on several television showrunners, including DuVernay. At the time the project was described as a comedy series but it was developed into a dramatic limited series.
The six-episode series will “focus on Kaepernick’s formative high school years, lending meaningful insight into the acts and experiences that led him to become the activist he is today.” It will provide “an introspective look at Kaepernick’s early life as a Black child growing up with a white adopted family and his journey to becoming a great quarterback while defining his identity. Michael Starrbury will be the writer and executive produce the series, alongside DuVernay and Kaepernick. The football star and activist will appear as himself in some capacity in the series and also narrate it.
“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” said Kaepernick in a statement received by S&A. “We seek to give a new perspective to the differing realities that Black people face. We explore the racial conflicts I faced as an adopted Black man in a white community, during my high school years. It’s an honor to bring these stories to life in collaboration with Ava for the world to see.”