The Dropout

The Dropout is an American miniseries released on the Hulu platform in 2022, based on the true story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the biotechnology company Theranos. The series dramatizes the rise and fall of Holmes’s company, which she established after leaving Stanford University with the claim of revolutionizing the healthcare industry. The production, starring Amanda Seyfried in the lead role, is adapted from ABC News’s podcast of the same name.

Plot

The series recounts how Elizabeth Holmes, while still young, dropped out of Stanford University and rapidly ascended in the healthcare sector by claiming to have developed a device capable of revolutionizing blood testing. It then details her downfall following a series of scandals. The narrative centers on Holmes’s personal ambitions, unethical decisions, and the complex relationships within her company.

Still from the Series (IMDb)

Production Team

• Creator: Elizabeth Meriwether
• Directors: Michael Showalter, Francesca Gregorini, Erica Watson
• Writers: Elizabeth Meriwether, Liz Hannah, Liz Heldens, Dan LeFranc, Hilary Bettis, Matt Lutsky, Wei-Ning Yu
• Producers: Elizabeth Meriwether, Katherine Pope, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick, Rebecca Jarvis, Taylor Dunn, Victoria Thompson, Liz Heldens, Liz Hannah, Amanda Seyfried, Hilary Bettis, Megan Mascena
• Directors of Photography: Michelle Lawler, Jonathan Furmanski, Blake McClure
• Music: Anne Nikitin
• Production Companies: Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures, Semi-Formal Productions, 20th Television, Searchlight Television

Cast

• Amanda Seyfried – Elizabeth Holmes
• Naveen Andrews – Sunny Balwani
• Utkarsh Ambudkar – Rakesh Madhava
• Bill Irwin – Channing Robertson
• William H. Macy – Richard Fuisz
• Laurie Metcalf – Phyllis Gardner
• Stephen Fry – Ian Gibbons
• Elizabeth Marvel – Noel Holmes
• Michel Gill – Chris Holmes
• Mary Lynn Rajskub – Lorraine Fuisz
• Kate Burton – Rochelle Gibbons
• Dylan Minnette – Tyler Shultz
• Alan Ruck – Jay Rosan
• Josh Pais – Wade Miquelon
• Sam Waterston – George Shultz
• Anne Archer – Charlotte Shultz
• Kurtwood Smith – David Boies
• Michaela Watkins – Linda Tanner
• LisaGay Hamilton – Judith Baker
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach – John Carreyrou

Production and Broadcast Information

• Release Date: March 3, 2022
• Number of Episodes: 8
• Episode Duration: 45–55 minutes
• Broadcast Platform: Hulu (United States), Disney+ (international)
• Genre: Biography, Drama, Crime
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Technical Specifications

The series was shot using a single-camera technique, with cinematography by Michelle Lawler, Jonathan Furmanski, and Blake McClure enhancing its dramatic atmosphere. Anne Nikitin’s score deepens the emotional resonance of the scenes. Directors Michael Showalter, Francesca Gregorini, and Erica Watson successfully convey the psychological depth of the characters and the emotional intensity of the story.

Release and Impact

The Dropout generated significant attention upon its release and received widespread critical acclaim from both audiences and reviewers. Amanda Seyfried’s performance, in particular, was widely praised. The series provides a detailed examination of the Theranos scandal and Elizabeth Holmes’s story.

Awards and Nominations

74th Primetime Emmy Awards:

• Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie (Elizabeth Meriwether) – Nominated

80th Golden Globe Awards:

28th Critics’ Choice Television Awards:

Producers Guild of America Awards:

Screen Actors Guild Awards: