Higher Ground, the audiovisual content producer founded by former President Barack Obama (2009-2016) and his wife Michelle, will continue to work for Netflix with four new films and two television series.
The productions the company announced on Friday will be added to a catalog of collaborations including “American Factory”, winner of the Oscar for best documentary; “Crip Camp” and “Becoming”, the film about the former first lady who continued the publishing success of her memoirs.
“We created Higher Ground to tell great stories. From science fiction to the beauty of the natural world to the relationships that define us, Higher Ground continues to strive to find new perspectives, engaging characters and inspire,” said Barack and Michelle Obama in a statement.
Four films signed by the Obamas
From the arsenal of announced projects, the film “Exit West” stands out, which will adapt the novel of the same name about two refugees from the Middle East in search of a better life in Europe and the United States.
Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) will be one of the protagonists of the film, based on one of the most recent literary phenomena in the United States.
Three more will be added to this star project. One of them from science fiction entitled “Satellite”, of which no further details are known.
Another tells of the life of Tenzing Norgat, the first man to reach the top of Everest with Edmund Hillary. It will be titled “Tenzing” and will star Jennifer Peedom (“Sherpa”), who spent years on Everest, according to Netflix.
Finally, “The Young Wife” will recount the special wedding of Celestina, a 29-year-old young woman who was confused during the ceremony.
Documentary and children’s series
Likewise, the Obamas will continue to bet on the documentary format with a series that will explore the famous national parks of the United States through the hand of filmmaker James Honeyborne, responsible for “Blue Planet II”.
Although they will also join the television fiction with another series, “Firekeeper’s Daughter”, about an 18-year-old girl who infiltrates a police investigation.
These two productions are in addition to the previously announced: a children’s formula, “Ada Twist, Scientist”, and the documentary series “The G Word With Adam Conover”.