Barack Obama has announced the future of his and Michelle’s production company, Higher Ground, after eight years with Netflix.
The former president and First Lady founded the company in 2018, inking a deal with the streamer. That agreement was later extended in 2024 to a multi-year first-look deal for all of its film and television projects. In that time, Higher Ground produced several movies, including the 2023 apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind starring Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke.
However, now that the deal with Netflix has ended, Barack, 64, has said they plan to transition to an independent operation.
Speaking Saturday at a media, sports and entertainment event in Philadelphia, the politician said he and Michelle were “very grateful” for the launch that happened with Netflix, adding that they are currently “in the process now of transitioning to a more independent [company] where we can work with a bunch of different studios,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
Higher Ground is also behind the Oscar-nominated films Rustin, American Symphony and Crip Camp, as well as the Oscar- and Emmy-winning documentary American Factory. Other notable productions include the limited series Bodkin, the NBA docu-series Starting Five and the 2021 Kevin Hart-led family comedy Fatherhood.
Recently, Higher Ground expanded its scope beyond film and TV. Last month, the Obamas joined as co-producers for the Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof, which opened April 16 starring Ayo Edebiri, Don Cheadle, Pachinko’s Jin Ha and Orange Is the New Black star, Samira Wiley. The 16-week run is directed by Tony-winner Thomas Kail, who will also produce alongside Mike Bosner and the Obamas.
“To bring this landmark play back to Broadway with Ayo, Don, Tommy, and Mike at the helm is an extraordinary privilege, and we couldn’t be more proud to be part of this production,” the Obamas said in an earlier statement.
“Proof is exactly the kind of story Higher Ground was built to champion, a play that asks profound questions about brilliance, doubt, and what we inherit from the people we love most.”
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Higher Ground has also expanded into podcasting, producing shows like IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, and Audible Originals The Wonder of Stevie and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.
In total, the company has earned three Academy Award nominations, six Emmy wins from 12 nominations and two Grammy wins from three nominations.
