Barack and Michelle Obama announce first slate of Netflix projects
Barack and Michelle Obama are taking on their next career choice and will produce a string of shows and films for Netflix.
The couple, who signed a deal with Higher Ground, turned down approaches from both Apple TV and Amazon in favour of creating content for Netflix.
In a previously announced statement, the Obamas detailed their intentions to create content that ” touches on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and much more”. Obama said before adding, “We believe each of these productions won’t just entertain but will educate, connect, and inspire us all.”
“We created Higher Ground to harness the power of storytelling. That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about these projects,” President Obama added.
Now, the first slate of content has been announced, consisting of seven projects ranging from new material to acquisitions, fiction to nonfiction, and content aimed at adults and children.
Some of the highlights include a feature film based on Pulitzer Prize winner David W Blight’s Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, a nonfiction series based on Michael Lewis’ The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy, and the Sundance-winning documentary American Factory.
“We love this slate because it spans so many different interests and experiences, yet it’s all woven together with stories that are relevant to our daily lives,” Michelle Obama said. “We think there’s something here for everyone – moms and dads, curious kids, and anyone simply looking for an engaging, uplifting watch at the end of a busy day. We can’t wait to see these projects come to life – and the conversations they’ll generate.”
The other announcements include a post-WWII dramatic series from Academy Award-winner Callie Khouri entitled Bloom; Crip Camp, a feature-length documentary on the ’70s revolution; Listen to Your Vegetables & Eat Your Parents, a half-hour series aimed at pre-schoolers detailing the type of foods they eat and Overlooked, a scripted anthology series adapted from The New York Times’ obituary column.
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