ESPN's Colin Kaepernick documentary scrapped, Spike Lee says project fell apart a year ago.

Spike Lee confirms that his ESPN documentary about Colin Kaepernick is being scrapped due to "creative differences". The project, which was announced in 2020 and attached to Lee in 2022, was intended to provide an in-depth look at the former NFL quarterback's life and career. Lee states that the project fell apart a year ago and has no plans to shop it around to other networks or streaming services.

ESPN has confirmed it is scrapping Spike Lee’s planned documentary series on ex-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, citing creative differences between the parties involved. The decision, made by mutual agreement, marks the end of a project that was intended to provide an in-depth look at Kaepernick’s life and career.

The documentary series, which was initially announced in 2020 and attached to Lee in 2022, was set to chronicle Kaepernick’s career with the San Francisco 49ers, particularly his decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice in America. The project faced delays and disagreements over creative direction, with Kaepernick and Lee reportedly having differing views on the scope of the series.

ESPN’s decision to drop the series comes amidst a larger context of increased scrutiny on political content in sports broadcasting. In February, Netflix revealed it was dumping a six-part documentary series on Prince directed by Oscar winner Ezra Edelman after the musician’s estate objected to the filmmaker’s take on his life story.

The revelation of the dropped project raises eyebrows, especially considering ESPN’s recent deal to buy the NFL Network, linear distribution of the RedZone Channel, and rights to NFL Fantasy. The acquisition, subject to league and other regulatory approval, further underscores the network’s commitment to sports content, but the decision to abandon the Kaepernick docuseries was made last summer.

Spike Lee, when asked about the project, cited a nondisclosure agreement and declined further comment. Kaepernick has not commented on the matter, while ESPN has thanked all parties involved for their efforts despite the outcome.

This is the second time this year a prominent documentary series has been dropped, a disturbing sign for nonfiction filmmakers. The decision highlights the complexities and challenges involved in producing and distributing content that intersects with political and social issues.

References:
[1] https://deadline.com/2025/08/espn-spike-lee-scrap-colin-kaepernick-documentary-series-1236490989/
[2] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4486329-disney-owned-espn-is-said-to-scrap-spike-lee-docuseries-on-colin-kaepernick
[3] https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2025/08/18/spike-lees-docuseries-on-colin-kaepernick-dropped-by-espn/85708923007/
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/16/espn-spike-lee-colin-kaepernick-docuseries