Ava DuVernay Joins Forces With Colin Kaepernick for New Netflix Series: ‘Colin in Black & White’
The When They See Us filmmaker and the famous San Francisco 49ers quarterback will be creating a new must-watch show based on Kaepernick’s high school years.
On June 29, Netflix announced that they are bringing two unstoppable forces for their latest limited series. The show, Colin in Black & White, will feature the life of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers player who became known worldwide for kneeling during the national anthem to protest against racism and police brutality.
Kaepernick himself will be involved in the show as a creator, executive producer, and narrator. He is in great company because he will be working alongside Ava DuVernay the director and producer of Selma and When They See Us.
This project has been a joy to work on for the last year with @StarrburyMike. I’ve long been fascinated by how folks become who they are. The steps we all take to get to ourselves. When it comes to @Kaepernick7, that story tracks the making of a singular American icon. #imwithkap https://t.co/x5wKf1m4nG
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) June 29, 2020
The duo will also be joined by Michael Starrbury, who will serve as writer and executive producer for the project. Although Netflix hasn’t shared the show’s release date yet, the script was finalized in May.
Here’s the story of how I started working on “Colin in Black and White”. (I’m paraphrasing a bit.)
*Phones rings. It’s Ava.*
Me: Hey.
Ava: Hey. You’re writing a show about Colin Kaepernick and running the room.
Me:
*The end.*
— MICHAEL (@StarrburyMike) June 29, 2020
Colin in Black & White will have six episodes in total, and it will delve into Kaepernick’s high school years, featuring a younger actor playing the role of the former NFL quarterback. The show will explore the events that shaped Kaepernick into a great athlete as well as a powerful activist.
“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick shared in a statement. “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 honor to bring these stories to life in collaboration with Ava for the world to see.”
It’s been a pleasure working with @ava, @StarrburyMike, and the entire writing team on this project for over a year now.
I look forward to sharing these moments of my life with all of you! https://t.co/IBYXQb69OH
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) June 29, 2020
Make sure to keep an eye out for Colin in Black & White. While you’re at it, please remember that there is still a lot of work to be done to support Black Lives Matter and fight against racial injustice. Click here to find petitions to sign, places to donate to, and more ways you can help.
