Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee is set to tackle an upcoming documentary series about former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Lee on Wednesday was named the director of the multi-part series by ESPN, which originally announced the project last year.
“Kaepernick, who has never given a full, first-person account of his journey, is collaborating closely wit Lee who plans to use extensive new interviews and a vast never-before-seen archive to help Kaepernick tell his story from his perspective,” ESPN said in a statement.
Kaepernick, 34, last played in the NFL in 2016. Throughout that season, Kaepernick led protests against racial inequality and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem before games.
The following year, Kaepernick accused the NFL owners of colluding not to sign him in a grievance, and later reached a settlement with the league, ending the legal battle.
ESPN has not announced a release date for the documentary series, which is part of a partnership with Kaepernick’s production company, Ra Vision Media.
Kaepernick will be the latest high-profile athlete to be featured in an ESPN documentary series. “The Last Dance,” which came out in 2020, covered Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls, while “Man in the Arena,” about Tom Brady’s prolific NFL career, is currently airing.
Lee is also executive producing an upcoming series, “The Captain,” about Yankees great Derek Jeter.
Kaepernick threw for 12,271 and 72 touchdown passes during his six seasons with the 49ers, leading the team to Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season.
Lee, known for films such as “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Do the Right Thing,” won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay in 2019 for “BlacKkKlansman.”
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