A few days after Netflix announced a limited series revolving around the life of Colin Kaepernick, Disney has announced a partnership with the former 49ers QB.
The deal includes an exclusive docuseries produced by ESPN Films as part of a first-look deal with The Walt Disney Company. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice, and the quest for equity. It also will provide a platform to showcase the work of minority directors and producers. In a statement, Keapernick stated,
“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,”
“I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
Despite being exiled from the NFL since the 2016 season, when he took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, Kaepernick still wants to play.
The deal with The Walt Disney Company will extend across all Disney platforms, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar, and The Undefeated.
Disney’s Bob Iger stated,
“During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Company remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters,”
“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.”
The docuseries chronicling Kaepernick’s journey and his last five years is the first project in development. The series will include new interviews and other never-before-seen elements as part of the docuseries. Jemele Hill, who previously worked for ESPN and The Undefeated, is a producer on the project.
