U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, have signed a multiyear deal with Netflix.
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have entered into a multi-year agreement to produce films and series for Netflix, potentially including scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features.
— Netflix US (@netflix)
Netflix did not release any details on the terms of the agreement. The deal will give the Obamas an international television platform during their post-presidency, allowing them to reach millions of people in the United States and internationally. The couple has created “Higher Ground Productions,” a company to produce content for Netflix.
“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,” former President Obama said in a statement obtained by The Chicago Tribune. “That’s 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 added, “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.”
Apart from this, in February 2017, Penguin Random House announced that the company would publish books by both Barack and Michelle Obama. Though Penguin Random House did not provide details of their contract with the Obamas, the rights were reportedly purchased for a whopping $60 million.
