Colin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay to Collaborate on Limited Series for Netflix
Colin Kaepernick’s groundbreaking 2016 protest against police brutality is finally getting a full backstory. According to Deadline, the ex-NFL star and activist has teamed up with renowned director Ava DuVernay for a limited series for Netflix.
The scripted, six-part series will chronicle Kaepernick’s teenage years and early football, basketball and baseball successes while in Turlock, California. The series will particularly focus on the “influences and circumstances that developed the social and cultural conscience of the young man adopted by a white family.”
“With his act of protest, Colin Kaepernick ignited a national conversation about race and justice with far-reaching consequences for football, culture and for him, personally,” DuVernay said in a statement today. “Colin’s story has much to say about identity, sports and the enduring spirit of protest and resilience. I couldn’t be happier than to tell this story with the team at Netflix.”
Dubbed “Colin in Black & White,” the series was written by Michael Starrbury and will be narrated by Kaepernick himself. Both will also serve as executive producers along with DuVernay. With scripts completed last month, production on the show is aimed to begin in the fall should the COVID-19 pandemic let up, Deadline reports.
DuVernay notably directed “When They See Us” for Netflix. The limited series showcased the story of five young men who were falsely accused of rape and murder in 1989. Labelled the Central Park Five, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray and Yusef Salaam all served about seven years in prison, while Korey Wise, who was tried as an adult at 16-years-old, spent 13 years in prison. The Central Park Five were later on exonerated in 2002.
“When They See Us” received major critical acclaim with actor Jharrel Jerome winning the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance as Korey Wise.