Higher Ground, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, is set to become independent following a long partnership with Netflix. Barack Obama announced the change while on stage in Philadelphia on Saturday, at History Channel’s special edition of HistoryTalks, held to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
While being interviewed by Jon Meacham, he spoke about the studio, saying he started the company, “…with the intention of trying to see if we could lift up some stories that help make America look at itself and excavate those better angels of our nature.”
Obama then gave further details. “And we were in partnership with Netflix… We’re in a process now of transitioning to a more independent [future] where we can work with a bunch of different studios.” According to multiple sources gathered by Deadline, Higher Ground’s deal with Netflix hasn’t yet concluded, but the studio plans to remain independent as soon as it does. The studio will not attempt to make any other studio contracts.
Higher Ground was founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018, and a deal with Netflix was announced the same year. In 2023, the studio then transitioned to a First Look deal with Netflix. Following this independent deal, Higher Ground has already attempted to shop projects on a first-look basis to studios including: HBO, Apple, Amazon, FX, Disney, 20th Century Studios, Artists Equity, Laika, AMC, CBS Studios, and YouTube, while still keeping to its contract with Netflix.
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