Whoopi Goldberg, Jenifer Lewis, Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox are set to star in the comedy Women Like Us as Netflix gets back in business with Higher Ground, the now-independent media company run by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
Women Like Us is set to start production this fall in New York City. “When a recently widowed woman is dragged to the Hamptons by her lifelong best friends and sister on what should have been her 30th anniversary, the weekend becomes a reckoning, with grief, with marriage, with the sisterhood that’s carried them throughout the years, and with the realization that dreams don’t have an expiration date,” a synopsis from the producers states.
The feature comedy will be directed by Tasha Smith from an original script by Ali Kinney, with additional writing from Tracy Oliver. Smith, who has acting credits like Empire and Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, also helmed the upcoming ‘Tis So Sweet for Netflix, which stars Taraji P. Henson and Joey Bada$$.
After Higher Ground was parked at Netflix for eight years, the Obamas’ banner recently transitioned to an independent operation to work with other studios. The Obamas inked their producing deal with Netflix in 2018. In 2024, Higher Ground and Netflix extended their partnership, with Higher Ground transitioning to a multiyear first-look deal for all of its film and TV projects.
The Obamas’ collaboration with Netflix to date has included the upcoming series All the Sinners Bleed and The Altruists, as well as a currently untitled Julianne Moore-led mother-daughter comedy film, and Court of Gold, Bodkin, Leave the World Behind, American Symphony, Working: What We Do All Day and Rustin.
Women Like Us is also the first partnership between and Obamas and co-producer Charles D. King of MACRO Film Studios, which has credits like Judas and the Black Messiah, Mudbound, Fences, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Just Mercy and Sorry to Bother You.
James Lopez, Poppy Hanks, Anikah McLaren and Mark R. Wright will share producer credits on Women Like Us, while Michelle Obama and King will executive produce.
Whoopi Goldberg is represented by WME, while Jenifer Lewis is represented by WME and Innovative Artists. Vanessa Williams is represented by UTA and Untitled Entertainment and Vivica A. Fox is represented by Innovative Artists.
Tasha Smith is represented by IAG and Rain. Ali Kinney is represented by CAA and Artists First. And Tracy Oliver is represented by CAA, Artists First and Myman Greenspan.
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