Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company is finding new ground on its own. In 2018, the former President and First Lady founded Higher Ground. Initially, they signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce scripted and unscripted film and TV projects.
Higher Ground reached a first-look agreement with Netflix in 2024, though that contract is due to expire later this year. Last weekend, the former POTUS signalled that a change was coming with that company while attending a HistoryTalks event in Philadelphia for the History Channel. Netflix will not necessarily figure into the company’s future plans.
The Obamas’ Higher Ground will go independent
Soon, Higher Ground won’t be tied to any streaming platform. During his appearance in Philadelphia last weekend, Barack said that the company is transitioning to a “more independent [future] where we can work with a bunch of different studios.”
In the meantime, they will honor the remainder of their Netflix deal and collaborate with the streamer on existing projects until the contract expires.
Sources have revealed to Deadline that Barack and Michelle won’t pursue another studio pact with Netflix or another streaming service when their current deal expires. They have been testing their sell-to-everyone model with major companies like HBO, Apple, Amazon, FX, and Disney, to name a few.
The independent platform is a path some well-known public figures have taken lately. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s company, Archewell Productions, is in part independent. They said in March that they’re confident that the company will take off. Like Higher Ground they previously had a first-look deal with Netflix.
Among Higher Ground’s current slate of programming is Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, featuring Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. That premieres this summer. They also have an upcoming high-profile limited series, All the Sinners Bleed, coming to Netflix. Their Netflix movie Rustin earned Colman Domingo an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Higher Ground and Netflix have been working together for eight years.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK HIGHER GROUND WILL FIND MORE SUCCESS INDEPENDENTLY THAN WITH NETFLIX?
