After initially teasing his excitement over the casting of a younger star to bring his story to life on screen in the Ava DuVernay-produced limited series at Netflix, Colin Kaepernick took to Twitter to reveal that Jaden Michael (Vampire vs. the Bronx) will lead the series entitled Colin in Black and White. The former football star’s post can be viewed below!
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I never thought I would be casting a young me in a show about my life. I can’t wait for the world to see @ItsJadenMichael be an all-star on @netflix #ColinInBlackAndWhite @ava pic.twitter.com/ygb4F4kgM5
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) October 27, 2020
The scripted six-part series will focus on Kaepernick’s teenage years and early football, basketball, and baseball successes in Turlock, California. The Michael Starrbury penned limited series will put particular emphasis on the influences and circumstances that developed the social and cultural conscience of the young man adopted by a white family.
“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 previously said in a statement. “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, who was shunned by the NFL after peacefully protesting against racism and police brutality in 2016 by kneeling during the national anthem, will narrate the series on top of executive producing alongside DuVernay and Starrbury.
“Too often we see race and Black stories portrayed through a white lens,” Kaepernick previously said 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.”
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Scripts for Colin in Black & White were completed earlier this year, with DuVernay set to direct the pilot episode.
(Photo Credits: Getty Images)
