You might be able to binge watch the Obamas soon.
The Obamas are (maybe) coming to a streaming service near you
The former first family inked a deal with Netflix to produce content — though what that might be isn’t yet clear.
Ron Sachs (Pool)/Getty Images
Jen Kirby is a senior foreign and national security reporter at Vox, where she covers global instability.
Netflix said Monday that it had inked a multi-year deal with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce films and series for streaming services.
What exactly the Obamas will do as content producers isn’t clear, but a Netflix press release suggests that it could include overseeing “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features.” The Obamas have founded Higher Ground Productions to produce the Netflix programming.
“One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life, and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience,” the former president said in a statement. “That’s why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix — we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world.”
That does not exactly sound like the streaming version of an anti-Fox News. The New York Times reported in March that content providers were courting the Obamas post-presidency for a possible partnership, with Netflix leading the way. Those familiar with discussions at the time told the Times that the Obamas didn’t want a platform to counter Trump or conservative media. That didn’t mean any one series or show wouldn’t have a point of view, and the Times suggested the Obamas could “lend their brand — and their endorsement — to documentaries or fictional programming ... that align with their beliefs and values.”
Obama has largely stayed out of the fray with Trump, though he did criticize his successor for stomping on one of his signature foreign policies achievements by pulling out of the Iran deal earlier this month. It seems unlikely that the Obamas will use Netflix as a platform to take on Trump. But an on-demand Obama could be a more soothing alternative to the recurring Trump tweetstorms.
