The Walt Disney Company announced on Monday an overall first-look deal with Colin Kaepernick and his production arm, Ra Vision Media.
What We Know:
- The partnership will focus on “telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice, and the quest for equity”. Disney says it will provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers.
- The first-look deal will extend across all Walt Disney Platforms including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar, and The Undefeated. Kaepernick will work closely with The Undefeated, which is expanding its portfolio across Disney, to develop stories from the perspective of Black and Brown communities.
- Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman, said, “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.”
- One of the projects included as part of the deal is ESPN Films which will produce an exclusive docuseries chronicling Kaepernick’s life. Kaepernick will tell his story from his perspective and will include extensive new interviews and a vast never-before-seen archive that documents his last five years. Further details have yet to be announced and the company did not yet announce when the series would air.
- The news of a new docuseries with Disney comes after Netflix announced that renowned filmmaker Ava DuVernay and Kaepernick will team up to create a limited series about Kapernick’s life, specifically his teenage years, titled Colin in Black & White.
- Kaepernick stated, “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. I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
I am excited for this partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers & producers. I look forward to sharing culturally impactful and inspiring projects. https://t.co/MXidGoWXNZ
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 6, 2020
- This deal added to Kaepernick’s ever-growing media business and presence since his split from the NFL in 2017. He is a co-founder of Ra Vision Media, a production company celebrating art and showcasing highlights in diverse film and television. In February, he also unveiled his new publishing company, Kaepernick Publishing, which will produce stories for the platform about race.
Kaepernick also recently announced he will be joining the board at Medium, a blogging site in which he will create stories for about race and civil rights in the United States.
