INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Another (very) big deal for Netflix: Former U.S
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have reached an agreement to produce films and series for the streaming service.
The New York
Times first reported in March that the Obamas were in &advanced negotiations& with Netflix
The goal, supposedly, was less about criticizing the Trump administration or promoting any specific political message and more about
highlighting inspirational stories.
Netflix official announcement makes it sound like that continues to be what the Obamas have in mind,
with Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos describing them as &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.&
The Obamas have formed a company called Higher Ground
Productions to create this content.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Netflix has deep pocketsand has shown a
willingness to write very large checks
It says the Obamas might produce &scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features& — so basically any kind of
audiovisual content.
In a statement, Mr
Obama said:
One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and
to help them share their experiences with a wider audience
That why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix & we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices
who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world.
Michelle
Obama memoir Becoming is scheduled for publication in November, while Barack Obama is expected to release a new memoir under the same deal
He kept a relatively low profile since leaving office, but he did make a recent appearance as the first guest on David Letterman Netflix
interview show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
