Colin in Black & White: Everything you need to know about Netflix's new Colin Kaepernick drama

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is teaming up with Hollywood filmmaker Ava DuVernay for a new Netflix drama focusing on his early life.

Made up of six episodes, the limited series will follow the athlete's childhood and upbringing as a black child within a white adopted family.

Colin in Black & White also sees DuVernay, who directed Selma and 13th, among other titles, reunite with Emmy-nominated writer, Michael Starrbury. Their last Netflix project, When They See Us, examined the Central Park Five case of 1989, which saw five black teens wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape and serve time for a crime they did not commit.

Here, we take a look at what viewers can expect from the new series...

When is Colin in Black & White released on Netflix?

As it stands, there is no air date for the new Netflix drama.

Production has yet to commence on the series, given the current coronavirus pandemic, so it is likely to air next year or late 2020 at the earliest.

That said, the script was finished in May, and the project seems to be good to go, as soon as lockdown lifts.

What is the series about?

Born in 1987 to a white mother and black father, Colin was placed for adoption with a white couple named Teresa and Rick Kaepernick after his birth parents split.

Colin's adopted parents have two other children, Kyle and Devon, and decided to adopt after two of their other sons had tragically died of heart defects.

The family lived in Wisconsin until Colin was aged 4, at which point they moved to California.

At the age of 8, Kaepernick showed promise as an athlete, before becoming his local youth team's quarterback a year later.

After receiving many scholarship offers from various universities across the US, Kaepernick signed with the University of Nevada in 2006.

In 2011, while a senior in college, Kaepernick was signed by NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Just five years later, he was released by the NFL after initiating peaceful protests during the National Anthem, in which Kaepernick took the knee as a stance against systemic racism and police brutality against black people in the United States.

And while the sportsman's dismissal has since prompted widespread outcry and calls for him to be reinstated, the Netflix series instead focuses on Kaepernick's early life and how these formative years ignited his activism.

Speaking about the upcoming series, DuVernay commented: "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.

“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.”

Kaepernick himself added: “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.”

Who's in the cast?

Again, the team has yet to confirm who will be cast in the series, but Netflix has revealed that Colin Kaepernick will narrate the six-parter himself.

Is there a trailer?

As production isn't underway yet, there is no trailer - but we will update this article as and when more information comes.

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