After working with Netflix on her incredible miniseries When They See Us and documentary 13th – both must-watches, particularly in 2020 – Ava DuVernay has set up a new project at the streaming service. She’s teamed up with Colin Kaepernick – the NFL star turned civil rights activist, who was effectively ousted from American Football when he took a knee during the national anthem instead of standing, as a protest against police brutality and racial inequality. Together, and along with When They See Us co-producer Michael Starrbury, they’ll be telling the story of Kaepernick’s early life in a scripted drama limited series titled Colin In Black & White.
The show will depict Kaepernick’s experiences in high school and growing up as a Black boy adopted by a white family, “lending meaningful insight into the acts and experiences that led him to become the activist he is today,” with Kaepernick himself acting as narrator. The show will consist of six episodes, with all scripts now written – though it’s currently unclear whether DuVernay will direct any of them, or even all of them, as she did with When They See Us. “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 says. “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.”
In a statement, Kaepernick said: “Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens. We seek to give new perspective to the differing realities that Black people face. We explore the racial conflicts I faced as an adopted Black man in a white community, during my high school years. It’s an honour to bring these stories to life in collaboration with Ava for the world to see.” There’s no word yet on when this one’s due – though with shooting yet to begin, it depends on how quickly production can get up and running as the pandemic continues. Still, think 2021 at the earliest.