Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke’s new Netflix disaster thriller Leave the World Behind marks the first fictional film from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground.

And it turns out the former President himself had a hand in shaping the script. Writer-director Sam Esmail revealed that Barack Obama sent him story notes while adapting the Rumaan Alam novel Leave the World Behind for the screen.

Esmail said Obama helped ground some plot elements in reality based on his real-world experience. So how much influence did Obama’s insights have on Roberts’ upcoming film?

Did Obama’s Feedback Change the Course of Leave the World Behind?

Leave The World Behind
Sam Esmail, known for creating shows like Mr. Robot, admitted he initially pushed the story quite far in early script drafts. But getting notes from Obama “scared the fuck out of him” and forced him to pull back on certain plot points. Leave the World Behind features Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke.

While Esmail was trying to dramatize a fictional disaster scenario, Barack Obama flagged areas that seemed implausible or bleak based on how he’s seen real disaster responses play out. Ultimately, most of Obama’s notes focused on strengthening the main characters and making sure audiences would empathize with them.

“I definitely pushed things a lot farther than they were in the film, and President Obama, having the experience he does have, was able to ground me a little bit on how things might unfold in reality,” Esmail told Vanity Fair.

So while Obama’s feedback didn’t drastically change the movie’s direction, it did help polish character development and realistic reactions to an unprecedented global event.

What Unique Perspective Did Obama Bring to the Film?

Leave The World Behind
As America’s former Commander-in-Chief, Obama has firsthand experience dealing with large-scale disasters, public health crises, and national security threats.

So while Esmail has creative license to invent fictional scenarios, Obama could point out which elements ring false or fail to account for how authorities might respond. Obama also offered insights into how everyday families and individuals handle fear and uncertainty in troubled times.
Julia Roberts in Leave The World Behind
In the end, Esmail found Obama’s fan perspective just as valuable as his leadership experience in crafting an authentic, character-focused tale. Obama captured in his notes what details Esmail needed to get right for audiences to fully invest in the story.

With its intimate, thoughtful approach to the disaster genre, Leave the World Behind promises to thrill audiences while also moving them deeply.