Colin in Black and White: release date, cast, trailer and latest news
The Netflix miniseries depicts Colin Kaepernick's adolescence.
The formative years of NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick will be depicted in Netflix's brand new miniseries Colin in Black and White, from Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay.
Kaepernick found himself at the centre of a media storm in 2016, when he and his San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid made the decision to kneel as the US national anthem played.
The move was taken to call attention to racial inequality and police brutality, an issue which surged to the forefront of public discourse in summer 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and subsequent global protests.
Colin in Black and White takes us back to Kaepernick's adolescent years, when he was living with his white adoptive parents and soon realised the ways in which society would treat him differently.
DuVernay's involvement has created considerable interest in this project, as the acclaimed filmmaker behind heart-wrenching limited series When They See Us and sobering documentary 13th.
Here's everything you need to know about Colin in Black and White on Netflix, including the release date, cast, trailer and latest news.
Colin in Black and White release date
CONFIRMED: Colin in Black and White will be released on Netflix on Friday 29th October 2021.
The series will consist of six episodes, clocking in at 30 minutes each, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who also co-wrote the show alongside Kaepernick and Emmy nominee Michael Starrbury.
Colin in Black and White is released on Netflix to coincide with Black History Month.
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Colin in Black and White cast
Rising star Jaden Michael (The Get Down) takes the lead role in this autobiographical series, playing American athlete Colin Kaepernick in his teenage years.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the young actor explained that he hopes this new series helps change attitudes around his co-star Kaepernick, who remains a highly controversial figure in the United States.
"I hope that more people are open to researching his motives," said Michael. "I understand that some might not agree with his methods, or where he did it, but at least try and learn more about what he's trying to tell you and what he's trying to teach."
Kaepernick himself will also appear in the Colin in Black and White cast, offering on-screen commentary and off-screen narration about important moments in his formative years, as seen in the recent trailers.
The athlete was adopted at just five weeks by white couple Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, portrayed here by Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds).
Jonny Lee (Hawaii Five-0), Ron Roggé (13 Reasons Why) and Howard M Lockie (Millennials) will also appear as coaches Kaepernick encountered during his youth.
The supporting cast includes Amarr (4400), Chris O'Neal (Greenhouse Academy), Mace Coronel (Wireless) and Jacob Buster (Colony), as well as relative newcomers Klarke Pipkin and Sarah Hamilton.
What is Colin in Black and White about?
The series will provide an examination of NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick during his teenage years, growing up as the adopted child of a white parents Rick and Teresa.
We see his talent for American Football begin to develop rapidly, setting him on course to becoming a a top NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
However, we will also get a glimpse at times when being a person of colour in a white household and largely white neighbourhood proved to be isolating.
Kaepernick will provide commentary over these reconstructions of important moments from his youth, which will shed light on what drove him to take a stand against injustice in his later life.
When the show was announced, director Ava DuVernay said: "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 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."
Colin in Black and White trailer
During Netflix's recent TUDUM event, the streamer revealed a first-look clip from the opening episode of Colin in Black and White, in which the eventual American football player explains an early affection for baseball. Watch it below.
A few weeks later, Netflix dropped the first full-length trailer for Colin in Black and White, which gives a better idea of the ongoing narrative across the six episode series. Watch the trailer below.
Check out our lists of the best TV shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix, or see what else is on with our TV Guide.
Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
