NETFLIX PARTNERS WITH HIGHER GROUND FOR NEW SLATE OF TITLES

Netflix announced a new slate of upcoming projects created in partnership with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground Productions . “It has been thrilling to watch President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and the Higher Ground team dive into original programming and produce incredible stories,” said Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO, and Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “American Factory, Crip Camp, and Becoming have captivated audiences all around the world, and their new slate highlights the variety and depth of programming on the horizon as well as new and exciting storytellers.”

The titles are set to strengthen the companies' existing slate of projects, which includes award-winning documentary "American Factory," the Emmy Award-nominated "Becoming" and "Crip Camp." The content consist of a range of fiction, non-fiction, and kids & family across both series and feature films. The productions are currently in different stages of development, set to be released throughout the next few years, all of which are working titles.

Higher Ground Productions, which is co-led by Priya Swaminathan and Tonia Davis, along with Ada Chiaghana and Alex Pitz, was created with the intention of telling stories that embody the values the Obamas overcame throughout the course of their lives. Additional project announcements are to be expected this year. "From science fiction to the beauty of our natural world to the relationships that define us, Higher Ground continues to strive for fresh perspectives, compelling characters, and a healthy dose of inspiration,” said President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. “We couldn’t be more proud to team up with the brilliant artists behind each of these stories. Each of them has something important to say.”  

The titles include "Exit West," a feature film based on Mohsin Hamid’s critically-acclaimed novel, "Satellite" is a science fiction feature film written by Ola Shokunbi, and produced by Kiri Hart and Stephen Feder, "Tenzing" is a feature film based on the true story of Tenzing Norgay, and "The Young Wife" is a feature film by writer and director Tayarisha Poe. The series which will debut on the platform as a result of the partnership include "Firekeeper's Daughter," based on the debut novel by Angeline Boulley, set to publish in Spring 2021 by Henry Holt & Co., and natural history docuseries "Great National Parks." Higher Ground is producing the series with Wild Space Productions and wildlife filmmaker James Honeyborne. Other titles include “Ada Twist, Scientist” and “The G Word with Adam Conover.”