A highly publicized, multi-part docuseries about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is no longer moving forward with ESPN Films.
According to reports, the project has officially been pulled after years of development. “ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,” an ESPN spokesperson told The Athletic. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
This announcement came just weeks before the NFL season is set to begin, leaving fans questioning if and when they’ll get to see the story. Many expected the docuseries, originally titled Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick, to give Kap the long-form platform to tell his side of history. Now, its future hangs in the balance.
Spike Lee Speaks Out on the Red Carpet
Reuters broke the news Saturday night, catching up with Spike Lee on the red carpet before the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation dinner in Beverly Hills. The event raised money for cancer research and treatment, but Lee’s bombshell about the project quickly made headlines.
Lee shared with Reuters, “It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say.”
When pressed for more details, Lee kept it short, pointing to a nondisclosure agreement. That left many wondering what exactly went down behind closed doors.
Creative Differences Stop the Project
A source close to the project told The Athletic that “creative differences” were the major roadblock. Both ESPN and Lee reportedly struggled to agree on the scope of the storytelling.
Puck’s Matt Belloni reported last September that tensions were building over whether the series should focus strictly on Kaepernick’s personal journey—or expand into a larger conversation about Black athletes and the fight for social justice in professional sports.
Lee himself told The Washington Post back in 2023, “We’re still working on it. You know, when I got the call to do it from Kap, I said, ‘Of course.’ But it takes time. This is an opportunity for him to tell his story at length.”
Now, instead of becoming ESPN’s next groundbreaking sports doc, the project is back on the shelf. Still, insiders say there’s a chance it could be picked up by another network or streaming service.