Higher Ground
Production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, transitioning from exclusive Netflix output to a multi-platform independent producer model across film, series, podcasts, and documentary.
Each signal is one documented data point captured by our continuous pipeline: a trade-press mention, festival market activity, executive statement, or production and development activity update. Higher signal volume means Higher Ground is generating more public market activity right now.
A producer, not a distributor. Higher Ground is moving away from its original exclusive Netflix partnership to work with multiple platforms across film, scripted television, podcasts, and documentary.
Higher Ground enters mid-2026 in a strategic shift from its original positioning. Founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018 with an exclusive Netflix output deal, the company is now operating as an independent production entity working with multiple platforms. Higher Ground has publicly stated an intent to work with a wider range of studios rather than maintaining the original Netflix exclusivity. The shift creates a producer-side relationship with Netflix that continues alongside new deals at Audible (podcasts) and other platforms.
The content focus is consistent with the Obamas' established voice: longform conversation, documentary-style storytelling, scripted series with substantive themes, and podcasts featuring Michelle and Barack Obama plus their network. Recent work includes Michelle Obama's The Light Podcast (debuting on Audible with a two-week exclusive window), continued documentary output (Higher Ground produced Crip Camp, American Factory, and Becoming), and scripted television development. The recurring themes are resilience, social connection, and substantive examinations of meaningful life moments.
This is a production company, not a distributor. Higher Ground does not acquire scripts in the way that Neon or A24 acquire films. The company produces and develops projects in-house or in partnership with attached filmmakers. For screenwriters, the realistic access pathway is not script submission to Higher Ground but rather: have a project that Higher Ground might attach to as a producer, typically routed through CAA (which represents the Obamas), or build a relationship with a filmmaker Higher Ground already works with. The bar is very high. Higher Ground produces a small slate of carefully curated projects each year, not a high-volume commercial output.
First-look deal at Audible
First-look deal with Audible
production deal with Netflix
A producer, not a distributor. Higher Ground is moving away from its original exclusive Netflix partnership to work with multiple platforms across film, scripted television, podcasts, and documentary.
Higher Ground enters mid-2026 in a strategic shift from its original positioning. Founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018 with an exclusive Netflix output deal, the company is now operating as an independent production entity working with multiple platforms. Higher Ground has publicly stated an intent to work with a wider range of studios rather than maintaining the original Netflix exclusivity. The shift creates a producer-side relationship with Netflix that continues alongside new deals at Audible (podcasts) and other platforms.
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Does Higher Ground accept unsolicited scripts?
No. Higher Ground is a production company, not a buyer in the conventional sense. The company does not maintain a script-submission portal. Material reaches Higher Ground through three primary pathways: CAA representation (Higher Ground is represented by CAA), an attached filmmaker with an existing Higher Ground or Obama-network relationship, or a major producer with a documented Higher Ground partnership.
What does Higher Ground produce?
Documentary (Crip Camp, American Factory, Becoming), scripted television, podcasts (The Michelle Obama Podcast, The Light Podcast on Audible), and selective feature films. The themes consistently reflect the Obamas'' interest in social connection, resilience, civic engagement, and substantive examinations of meaningful life moments.
Is Higher Ground still exclusively at Netflix?
No. While Higher Ground retains an ongoing production relationship with Netflix, the company has publicly transitioned to work with multiple platforms. The Audible podcast deal is one example. Higher Ground has explicitly stated an intent to collaborate with a wider range of studios rather than maintaining a single output deal. This is a meaningful shift from the original 2018 Netflix-exclusive structure.
How do I get my project in front of Higher Ground?
Three realistic pathways: representation through CAA (the agency representing the Obamas), attachment to a filmmaker with an existing Higher Ground relationship, or a major producer who has documented prior work with Higher Ground. Cold query has zero conversion. Higher Ground produces a small annual slate and is selective about which projects it takes on.
What genres does Higher Ground focus on?
Documentary (the strongest historical track record), scripted limited series, podcasts featuring Michelle and Barack Obama, and selective feature projects. The unifying thread is substantive themes (civic resilience, social connection, meaningful nonfiction storytelling) rather than commercial genre. Higher Ground does not pursue action, broad comedy, or mass-market genre material.
Is Higher Ground currently active?
Yes, at curated low volume. Higher Ground has documented 22 signals over the past 12 months, small compared to studio buyers, which is by design. The recent shift away from Netflix exclusivity, combined with the Audible podcast deals and continued production output, indicates an active but selective company. New scripted and unscripted projects continue to be announced through 2026.
Profile compiled from publicly-available sources: trade press (Deadline, Variety, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Daily), festival market reports (Cannes Marche, AFM, EFM, TIFF Industry), executive public statements, and acquisition announcements. Activity counters reflect signal volume from continuous pipeline indexing.
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