Barack Obama’s Role in Netflix Documentary ‘The Original Five’ Explained

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Inception 5.

New Netflix documentary series Starting from 5 executive producers were Barack and Michelle Obama. Starting from 5 offers extensive deep dive into the 2023-24 NBA season through the exclusive lenses of five elite players. Directed by Peter J. Scalettar (Senior Team) and executive producer Peyton Manning (Defender) and Obama (Leave the world behind), Starting from 5 takes a behind-the-scenes look at the off-game lives of five of the NBA’s biggest stars. Starting from 5 He is followed by Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Starting from 5 also features never-before-seen footage of these five NBA talents during the regular season and playoffs, including previously unreleased audio and in-game commentary between players, coaches and other NBA personnel. The biggest discoveries in Starting from 5 brings together some common themes between these five NBA superstars, such as their personal battles with injury, legacy and fame, as well as their roles as fathers, partners and public figures. Starting from 5 has a great soundtrack and comes out just one day after the start of the 2024-25 NBA preseason. chronicling the entire 2023-24 season up until the Boston Celtics’ victory in the NBA Finals. in June 2024.

Barack and Michelle Obama will serve as executive producers on Inception 5

Peyton Manning and Maverick Carter also serve as executive producers.

Barack and Michelle Obama are executive producers for Netflix. Starting from 5. While neither appears in the new Netflix docuseries, each played a critical role in bringing the project to life, likely taking on project finance and other responsibilities that required management oversight. Other executive producers Starting from 5 include director Peter J. Scalettar, Philip Byron (Shop), Maverick Carter (Fuss) and Vinny Malhotra (Goliath). Barack Obama is a two-time Emmy Award winner for voice acting. as the narrator of a Netflix nature documentary Our Great National Parks (2022) and documentary series Work: what we do all day (2023).

Neither Barack nor Michelle Obama have commented on Inception 5 or promoted the series in any way on social media, which is understandable given the proximity of the 2024 election. Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground Productions co-produced the Netflix docuseries along with LeBron James’ production and media company Uninterrupted and Peyton Manning’s production company Omaha Productions. Starting from 5 notes first collaboration between LeBron James’ Uninterrupted and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions. This is also Peyton Manning’s first collaboration with Omaha Productions.

Barack Obama is a big basketball fan

Magic Johnson came out of retirement to play on his 50th birthday

Of all the projects Barack Obama has produced since launching Higher Ground Productions in 2018, Starting from 5 perhaps the one that makes the most sense based on his personality and extracurricular interests. Obama has several viral clips of him playing basketball during his time as President of the United States, including one that shows him making a three-pointer before walking away and saying:That’s what I do!“Obama played varsity basketball at his high school and carried his love for the game throughout his life, even during his time in the White House, where he famously hosted iconic basketball games.

According to Official White House websiteBarack Obama designed the White House to include the world’s first full-size basketball court. “Shortly after taking office, President Obama ordered the White House tennis court be adapted so that it could be used for both tennis and basketball. The White House has had a smaller outdoor court since 1991, but the adapted tennis court has enough space for full-court basketball.” Magic Johnson even came out of retirement to hang out with Obama in the White House. at the former president’s 50th birthday, which was also attended by NBA stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Alonzo Mourning (via Sports Illustrated).

What Else Barack and Michelle Obama Produced on Netflix

Obama has produced several TV series, documentaries and films.

Through Higher Ground Productions, Barack and Michelle Obama served as executive producers on several other notable projects, in addition to Starting from 5. They were cast in a Netflix dystopian film. Leave the world behind Starring Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Garner and Mahershala Ali. They also produced Netflix’s 2024 murder mystery series. Awl which was filmed SNL alumnus Will Forte and the 2023 Oscar-nominated film Rustin starring Colman Domingo. Higher Ground also co-produced the 2023 film. American Symphonymusic documentary starring five-time Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste. After Starting from 5The Obamas are set to produce several new projects, such as an untitled documentary about the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sources: White House, Sports Illustrated.