Barack and Michelle Obama ink deal with Netflix

Netflix says that it has reached a deal with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce material for the streaming service, giving the former first family a powerful media platform to shape their post-White House legacy.

Netflix said Monday, in a tweet, that the former U.S. president and first lady will produce films and series for the service, potentially including scripted and unscripted series, documentaries and features.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that the Obamas are uniquely positioned to discover and highlight stories of people who make a difference in their communities.

"One of the simple joys of our time in public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience," Barack Obama said in a statement.

"That's why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix — we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world."

Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed and Netflix did not say when Obama-produced content will be released or give any specific content plans.

Netflix, which has 125 million subscribers worldwide, has aggressively pursued content acquisitions in recent years as it moves to compete with traditional Hollywood studios for films and original TV programming.

The former president recently appeared as a guest on David Letterman's Netflix talk show.