Barack and Michelle Obama to take production company Higher Ground independent

Former US president Barack Obama has said that he and Michelle Obama are moving their production company, Higher Ground Productions, towards an independent model after eight years of working with Netflix.

Obama made the announcement at an event in Philadelphia marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, where both he and Michelle Obama spoke about their work in film and television.

He said the company is “in the process now of transitioning to a more independent [company] where we can work with a bunch of different studios,” adding that they remain “very grateful” for their collaboration with Netflix.

The Obamas first signed a production deal with Netflix in 2018. In 2024, the partnership evolved into a multi-year first-look agreement covering film and television projects.

Through Higher Ground, the couple has backed several high-profile productions, including the Oscar-winning documentary “American Factory”, as well as Oscar-nominated titles “Rustin”, “American Symphony”, and “Crip Camp”.

Their recent projects also include the series “Bodkin” and the thriller “Leave the World Behind”, directed by Sam Esmail.

The company has increasingly developed projects beyond Netflix, including the HBO series “Life Larry” and “The Pursuit of Unhappiness”, created by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer, set to premiere in June.

The Philadelphia event featured a wide range of public figures, including Joe Biden and Jill Biden, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, and George W Bush, alongside figures from entertainment and sports.