Ever since Netflix announced it was developing a series about Colin Kaepernick in June, we’ve been wondering who would play the football star-turned-activist and now we’ve got our answer. Jaden Michael will star as a young Kaepernick in Colin in Black & White.
Read More: Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick developing Netflix series on his high school years
The six-episode limited series that focuses on the icon during his formative high school years will provide an introspective look at Kaepernick’s life as a Black teen growing up with a white adopted family. It will follow his journey to become a great quarterback, while defining his identity and lending meaningful insight into the acts and experiences that led him to become the activist he is today.
This won’t be the first time Michael has snagged a leading role in a Netflix project. His latest film, Vampires vs. The Bronx, is streaming now and he has a pretty impressive resume.
He has already starred alongside Viola Davis in the indie flick Custody and was featured in projects like The Get Down and Wonderstruck.
Read More: Colin Kaepernick signs first-look deal with Disney
Colin in Black & White was created by Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay, who will direct the first episode in the limited series that Kaepernick is set to narrate. He’ll also appear as himself in the project.
In July, Variety reported that Kaepernick signed a first-look deal with Disney that includes him telling the story of his last five years from his perspective. For most of those five years, despite the anthem protests that basically saw him blackballed from the NFL, Kaepernick has spoken with his Know Your Rights campaign and his wallet, giving out a million dollars to various grassroots organizations in social justice and anti-racism.
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