Obama, Netflix in content talks
March 9, 2018
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are said to be in talks with Netflix to produce shows for the online streaming giant, according to a report in the New York Times.
The couple would make exclusive content for the US streaming site focused on uplifting stories. The deal would give a global platform for the Obamas, bypassing mainstream US media such as Fox News.
Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, did not confirm the plans but said they would make sense. “President and Mrs Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire,” he told the paper. “Throughout their lives, they have lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better. As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.”
The New York Times said one possible show idea was for the Obamas to moderate debates on issues such as health care, climate change and immigration- all of which dominated his eight years in the White House. But the paper said there were no plans to use the shows to attack conservative critics or Donald Trump.