In an Instagram post, former First Lady Michelle Obama just announced that Netflix will stream a documentary about her Becoming book tour starting May 6. The film, also titled Becoming, is directed by Nadia Hallgren and will look at Obama's life and experiences while on the road.
"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," she writes. "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."
The memoir, which was released in November of 2018, sold over 11 million copies and led to a 34-city tour that was, interestingly, managed by Live Nation, a concert promoter. To nobody's surprise, it became a New York Times bestseller and was an Oprah's Book Club pick.
The documentary will be released under the umbrella of Higher Ground Productions, the company that the former First Lady created with husband and former President Barack Obama.
In her Instagram post, Obama also acknowledges the new reality we all find ourselves in. "As many of you know, I’m a hugger," she writes. "My whole life, I’ve seen it as the most natural and equalizing gesture one human can make toward another—the easiest way of saying, 'I’m here for you.' And this is one of the toughest parts of our new reality: Things that once felt simple—going to see a friend, sitting with someone who is hurting, embracing someone new—are now not simple at all. But I’m here for you. And I know you are here for one another. Even as we can no longer safely gather we need to stay open and able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. Empathy is our lifeline here."
If you're looking for an even more immediately connection with Obama, tune into her weekly reading sessions for kids. Next up, the author is scheduled to read Miss Maple's Seeds by Eliza Wheeler on May 4.