The critically acclaimed true crime series The Dropout, starring Amanda Seyfried, has landed on ITVX, four years after its initial release on Disney+ in 2022. The show chronicles the meteoric rise and dramatic fall of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the now-defunct blood-testing company Theranos.
The story begins in 2002, when Holmes drops out of Stanford University to pursue her vision of a revolutionary medical device. Despite warnings from academics like Dr Phyllis Gardner, played by Laurie Metcalf, that her concept was unfeasible, Holmes insisted she could 'change the world' and built Theranos into a billion-dollar enterprise.
The Wall Street Journal's investigation into Theranos triggered a cascade of legal troubles, culminating in Holmes being found guilty of defrauding investors in 2021. She was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison in November 2022 and began her sentence in Texas in May 2023.
Viewers have praised the series, with one IMDB reviewer calling it 'insane' and comparing Holmes's trajectory to 'a real life Anakin Skywalker story'. Another described the show as 'highly watchable with great performances', while a third said Amanda Seyfried's portrayal of Holmes is 'off the chart'.
