From the memorable first episode called “I’m In A Hurry,” Hulu series The Dropout draws fans in and tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes, who founded the company Theranos. Elizabeth believed that she could create a new type of blood testing technology. The problem? There was no actual device and yet Elizabeth forged ahead, working with investors and always asking for more time.
Fans are fascinated by Amanda Seyfried’s performance as Elizabeth as The Dropout shares many details about how this scandal happened. From how Seyfried copied Elizabeth’s deep voice to something that the series didn’t include, there are many interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the Hulu series.
Amanda Seyfried Had A Voice Coach
Amanda Seyfried’s best movies have proven to fans that she is incredibly talented, and when those who have followed the Theranos case heard that there would be a Hulu series, they wondered if she would speak in a lower voice like Elizabeth Holmes famously did.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Seyfried shared that she had a voice coach and said, “My biggest fear was I don’t want to do anything to my vocal cords that’s unhealthy, if I can help it.”
Seyfried Thought About How Elizabeth Holmes Felt
In an interview with Indiewire.com, Seyfried explained that when she was interested in the project, she thought about getting the chance to think about what Elizabeth was thinking and feeling while dealing with this situation.
Seyfried said, “Because this is fiction, we get to explore inside [Holmes] and we get to imagine what was happening inside.”
The Show Is Based On The Podcast Of The Same Name
The Dropout based on the ABC News podcast, which has the same name, and which has several episodes that chart Elizabeth’s story from Standford to her court case.
The first episode from 2019, “Myth-Making,” talks about Elizabeth’s time at college, and the third, “A Star Is Born,” is also memorable and important, as listeners hear about how famous Elizabeth became. Several podcast episodes were published in 2021 as episodes followed Elizabeth’s trial.
Liz Meriweather Says There Are Comedic Scenes
Liz Meriweather, the creator and showrunner of New Girl, also created The Dropout. Since there are many funny characters on New Girl, it’s interesting to watch a more serious show from Meriweather. As Meriweather told E! News, there are comedic scenes on the show. Meriweather said, “I certainly wasn’t wanting to make fun of her or make fun of other people in the show. I just wanted to embrace the sort of awkwardness and the absurdity of her world.”
There are definitely some funny scenes, as potential investors visit the Theranos office and wonder why it seems so strange, or Elizabeth’s parents’ friend Richard Fuisz wonders what Elizabeth is up to.
The Show Changed One Interesting Fact
One of the most fascinating parts of The Dropout is when Elizabeth wants to find a partnership with a company so she can get more money to continue making the blood testing device, which Theranos had a huge problem making actually work.
According to Parade, Elizabeth met with Safeway and Walgreens and pitted them against each other, making them compete for a partnership. The publication notes that the actual story is a little different: Theranos made a deal with Safeway and Walgreen, but then Theranos and Safeway didn’t actually officially work together, and they decided to stop working together in 2015. This is after the company renovated so they could have wellness centers.
The Show Doesn’t Include One Person
According to Time.com, while there are many cast members on The Dropout who were really involved with the company, the series doesn’t include John Ioannidis.
The publication mentioned that Ioannidis is a prof. at Stanford and in 2015, penned a Journal of the American Medical Association column talking about how Theranos wouldn’t tell anyone about its technology. Ioannidis was a big name wondering what the company was hiding.
Stephen Fry Spoke To Ian Gibbons’ Wife Rochelle
The cast of The Dropout includes the very talented Stephen Fry, who plays Ian Gibbons, the head of chemistry who tragically dies.
In an interview with Esquire, Fry shared that he wanted to speak to Rochelle Gibbons, Ian’s wife, as he felt a “responsibility to play someone who really lived, and died in such sad circumstances and who left behind a loving widow.” Fry said that they had a phone conversation.
The Case Unfolded As The Actors Filmed The Series
The Dropout is also interesting because as the actors were making the miniseries, Elizabeth Holmes was on trial and new parts of the story kept coming out.
Naveen Andrews, who plays Sunny Balwani, told Showbiz Junkies, “This was different in that things were happening in real-time as we were filming, which is almost like a play within a play. You can’t help but be affected by that.”
One Thing About Elizabeth Stood Out To The Dropout’s Creator
There are many recent TV shows based on real stories, and fans of The Dropout have seen many scenes of Elizabeth dancing or playing music in her car, dorm room, or office.
In an interview with Consequence.net, Liz Meriweather shared that Ana Arriola said that she once saw Elizabeth Holmes sitting in her car playing a hip hop song and dancing. Meriweather said that she liked the contrast of “Elizabeth Holmes’s image out in the world versus that private moment.”
Seyfried Said No To Playing Elizabeth Holmes At First
Many fans think that Amanda Seyfried is perfect as Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seyfried said no at first.
Kate McKinnon was going to play Elizabeth, and when Seyfried was offered the part, Seyfried wasn’t sure about it. At the time, she was in Savannah because her husband Thomas Sadoski was filming and she had COVID-19. Seyfried then decided that she wanted to play the role.
