It appears Barack and Michelle Obama are dealing with the post-presidential slump fairly well, what with a new Netflix deal in store for both, which will have them producing TV series and films for the streaming service for several years.
The former president has now formally announced a multiyear production deal with Netflix in which he and Michelle will produce content for the service. The deal will give the couple an international TV platform during Barack's post-presidency, enabling him to reach millions around the world. Michelle and Barack have created a company called "Higher Ground Productions," which will be used to create content for the streaming service, Netflix announced.
No Mudslinging
The shows won't be political in nature — or at least not the dirty kind. Barack has apparently told associates that he does not intend to use the new platform to wage a public campaign against current President Donald Trump, or to fight against conservative voices that appear frequently on media outlets, including Fox News, as The New York Times reports.
Rather, the Obamas intend to create series, both unscripted and scripted, features, and documentaries that discuss issues and themes Barack and Michelle pursued during his stint as president, and her stint as First Lady. In a statement, Barack says that one of things he enjoyed being president was meeting people from diverse backgrounds and sharing their experiences with a wider audience.
"[Michelle and I] 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."
Reports say the Obamas are currently seeking producers for projects they have planned.
Netflix And A-Listers
For Netflix, exclusive content deals with high-profile individuals aren't new. It's been aggressively attempting to strike deals with top-tier showrunners to make its original library richer. Among the company's biggest wins include Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy, both of which are currently developing their own projects for the service.
But this marks the first time for Netflix to approach a former U.S. president.
"We are incredibly proud [Michelle and Barack Obama] have chosen to make Netflix the home for their formidable storytelling abilities," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer.
From the looks of things, specific plans in terms of content are still very early in development, though the deal has been finalized. There are currently no details available as to the format of shows the Obamas plan to make, or how many they intend to release.
Thrilled for the Obamas' planned Netflix shows? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
