Colin Kaepernick is still waiting to see if he will get a chance to land an NFL team this season. He knows he will be at least returning to television in another form — through a scripted documentary series made for Netflix.
Ava DuVernay, a renowned director best known for the Academy Award-nominated film "Selma," is reuniting with her "When They See Us" writer Michael Starrbury for the six-episode "Colin in Black & White," Variety reports.
The series, in addition to detailing what made Kaepernick decide to kneel in protest during the national anthem and turning into a strong social justice advocate, also will look back on his childhood growing up Black in his white adopted family and his path to the NFL with the 49ers. Kaepernick will also narrate the story of his life and will co-executive produce with both DuVernay and Starrbury.
MORE: A complete Colin Kaepernick protest timeline
“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick told Variety. “We seek to give 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.”
DuVernay got 16 Emmy nominations for "When They See Us," which also is on Netflix. The Kaepernick series was conceived in 2019 and was completed this spring. It's uncertain when "Colin in Black & White" will make its debut and be available on the streaming network.
Kaepernick seemed destined for documentary treatment at some point with something in-depth. It's a big coup for Neftlix to have DuVernay and Starrbury help tell Kaepernick's story. It's a bigger one that he also is involved in the project.
