New Michelle Obama Documentary to Arrive May 6

Netflix announced today that a new documentary about former first lady Michelle Obama will be available on the streaming service starting Wednesday, May 6th. The documentary is called Becoming, which is the same title as her memoir released in 2018. 

Becoming will cover some history of Obama’s life from the memoir, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and give a behind-the-scenes look at experiences from her 34-city book tour.

The doc hails from the Obamas’ development pact with Netflix via their Higher Ground Productions banner. It was launched last year. 

Documentarian Nadia Hallgren, whose credits include the Oscar-shortlisted doc After Maria, directed the film. With Katy Chevigny, Marilyn Ness and Lauren Cioffi on board as producers. 

“Those months I spent traveling, meeting and connecting with people in cities across the globe; drove home the idea that what we share in common is deep. And real and can’t be messed with,” said Obama in a statement. “In groups large and small, young and old, unique and united, we came together and shared stories. Filling those spaces with our joys, worries, and dreams. We processed the past and imagined a better future. In talking about the idea of ‘becoming,’ many of us dared to say our hopes out loud.”

Nadia Hallgren speaks on Becoming

In her own statement on the film, Hallgren says that she was approached by Higher Ground with the idea of filming Obama during her tour. And was granted a 30-minute meeting with the former First Lady; to decide whether she was the right fit to make Becoming. She also explains how difficult it was to shoot Michelle because she is “flanked by Secret Service everywhere she goes.”

“She moves quickly and I had to learn to move with her. I filmed in tight, private spaces in a way that required the smallest possible  footprint. But also allowed me to build a close relationship with her,” Hallgren writes in her note. 

Watch a trailer for the new documentary right here:

Michelle and President Barack Obama signed a multiyear agreement with Netflix in May 2018. To create “a diverse mix of content. Including the potential for scripted series, unscripted series, docuseries, documentaries, and features” from their production company, Higher Ground Productions. The Obamas signed a deal with Spotify to produce exclusive podcasts for the platform in June 2019.