On the heels of the announcement that Higher Ground’s film ‘Leave the World Behind’ topped all of Netflix viewing in the second half of 2023 and that ‘Bodkin’, the Will Forte crime drama series, debuted on Netflix’s Top 10 weekly global list, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s media company, Higher Ground, has extended its creative partnership with Netflix.

Under the terms of the agreement, Higher Ground will have a multi-year, first look deal with Netflix for all its film and television projects, a media statement on Netflix website stated.

Vinnie Malhotra, President of Higher Ground, said: “From the beginning, Netflix has championed our projects, helping them flourish and reach millions across the world. We’re thrilled to build on our stellar creative partnership and to deliver more ambitious films and series. From gripping thrillers to heartfelt comedies and profound documentaries, we have so much that we look forward to sharing.”

Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, said: “If there’s one thing that’s defined President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s creative ambitions since we started our partnership with Higher Ground, it is their pursuit of an exceptional story that brings the human experience to light.

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Higher Ground as they continue to develop and produce more ambitious, compelling and entertaining stories,” a Netflix executive said.

Higher Ground’s recent projects with Netflix include ‘Rustin’, ‘American Symphony’, ‘Leave the World Behind’, ‘Working: What We Do All Day’, and ‘Bodkin’.

‘Rustin’, a feature film that tells the story of civil rights and gay rights activist Bayard Rustin, earned Academy Award, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild nominations for Colman Domingo’s performance in the titular role.

‘American Symphony’ was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a BAFTA Award for Best Documentary. Higher Ground’s apocalyptic thriller directed by Sam Esmail, ‘Leave the World Behind’, climbed to the fifth spot on Netflix’s Most Popular Films List of all time, clocking 121 million views in just over three weeks after its premiere. Despite debuting late in the year, the film topped all Netflix viewing in the second half of 2023.

Previous Higher Ground projects with Netflix include Academy Award nominee ‘Crip Camp”, the Emmy Award-winning ‘Our Great National Parks’, plus the hit kids and family series ‘Waffles + Mochi’ and ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’.

Higher Ground’s first film release on Netflix, ‘American Factory’, won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program.

Higher Ground has an expansive range of projects currently in development or production and has acquired the rights to S.A. Cosby’s best-selling crime thriller ‘All the Sinners Bleed’, which it is developing with Amblin Entertainment

Further, Michelle Obama is working closely alongside Lupita Nyong’o on a romantic comedy film titled ‘Fling’, produced by and starring Nyong’o, based on a novel by J.F. Murray.