ESPN has announced it will be ditching Spike Lee’s upcoming documentary series on former NFL star Colin Kaepernick following a dispute over creative differences.
“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 Deadline. “Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”
Spike Lee reacted to the network’s decision to scrap the project.
“It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say,” he told Reuters. “I can’t. I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”
Spike Lee told @Reuters his multi-part docuseries about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for ESPN Films will not be released https://t.co/CCmEvq32qL pic.twitter.com/xgzVsWHO0H
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 18, 2025
Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem in 2016 led to him allegedly being blackballed by the league.
Following his decision to opt out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, Kaepernick was not signed by any other NFL team. In 2019, Kaepernick and his former teammate Eric Reid reached a confidential settlement with the NFL regarding a collusion grievance, the specifics of which remain undisclosed.
Despite subsequent admissions by the league regarding its mishandling of player protests, Kaepernick’s career as a professional athlete has not resumed.
