Colin Kaepernick signs Disney deal including ESPN docuseries and programmes exploring race and social injustice

Colin Kaepernick has signed a production deal with Disney that will include an exclusive docuseries focusing on the life of the civil-rights advocate and American football quarterback.

On Monday, the Walt Disney Company confirmed they had reached an agreement on an "overall first-look deal" with Kaepernick's Ra Vision Media that will focus on "stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity, and will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers".

The deal is set to extend across all of Disney's platforms and will include an ESPN Films docuseries produced by Jemele Hill chronicling former San Francisco 49ers star Kaepernick's life and journey to becoming a civil-rights activist and one of the leading figures in the fight against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.

“I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives," Kaepernick said.

"I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”

Disney's executive chairman Bob Iger added: “During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Company remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters.

"Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration."

Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2017 and in 2019 reached an out-of-court settlement with regards to allegations that there had been collusion to keep him out of the league following his powerful national anthem protests.

Kaepernick's decision to first sit and later kneel during the anthem before games in 2016 proved hugely divisive, but four years later the gesture popularised by the quarterback has been repeated by players, teams, coaches and officials in sports across the world to support the Black Lives Matter movement and protest against racism following the death of American George Floyd while in police custody in May.