Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have reportedly entered a multiyear agreement with Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) to produce new films and shows. The couple has established Higher Ground Productions, which will be the entity under which they will produce content for Netflix. The projects will be available to the popular streaming service’s 125 million members across 190 countries.
The former president and first lady will be producing a diverse mix of content for Netflix, according to a press release from the company. Netflix says the “films and series” will “potentially” include “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features.” Exact details of programming have yet to be announced. Netflix did not mention when the first project from the Obamas will debut.
Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos commented on the Obamas joining the company’s creative team, stating that said the streaming service is thrilled. In his statement, he said, “Barack and Michelle Obama are among the world’s most respected and highly-recognized public figures and are uniquely positioned to discover and highlight stories of people who make a difference in their communities and strive to change the world for the better.”
Michelle said “Barack and I have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire us, to make us think differently about the world around us, and to help us open our minds and hearts to others. Netflix’s unparalleled service is a natural fit for the kinds of stories we want to share, and we look forward to starting this exciting new partnership.”
Rumors started to swirl at the beginning of the year hinting that the Obamas were planning to team up with Netflix. The former president appeared as the first guest on David Letterman’s new Netflix series “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”, which premiered January 12, 2018. The New York Times first reported that the couple was in talks with the streaming service in March.
