Fresh off an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn inMank,Amanda Seyfriedhas signed on to play Theranos founderElizabeth Holmesin Hulu’s limited seriesThe Dropout, which is based on the ABC News podcast of the same name.
Saturday Night LivestarKate McKinnonhad long been attached to play Holmes, but she “dropped out” ofThe Dropoutback in February. Frankly, I think it was for the best, as likeKristen Wiig, I have a hard time taking McKinnon seriously, as talented as she is as a comedienne.
Once McKinnon exited as Holmes, I began hearing that Hulu was determined to land a movie star for the high-profile role, even making an offer toSaoirse Ronanat one point, according to sources. Those overtures may have been rebuffed, but Seyfried is a solid choice at this moment in her career, and I’m looking forward to her return to TV following years on HBO’sBig Love.
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The Dropoutexplores how Holmes raised hundreds of millions to fund the biotech start-up Theranos and became a media darling while hiding the fact that her game-changing blood-testing machine didn’t really work.
The show hails from Fox Searchlight’s TV division and 20th Television, and showrunnerElizabeth Meriwether(New Girl) will executive produce alongsideLiz Heldens,Liz Hannah,Katherine Pope,Victoria Thompson,Taylor Dunnand ABC News’Rebecca Jarvis, who hosted the popular podcast. Seyfried will also be credited as a producer on the limited series, which is expected to start filming this spring/summer.
Seyfried is up for an Oscar for her impressive turn asMarion DaviesinDavid Fincher’s Netflix movieMank, and she’ll soon be seen alongsideJames Nortonin the streamer’s upcoming genre filmThings Heard & Seen. Seyfried recently starred oppositeKevin Baconin the Blumhouse movieYou Should Have Left, and she has also wrapped the indie dramaA Mouthful of Air.
Here’s hoping Seyfried’s trailer is outfitted with top-of-the-line air conditioning, as she’s poised for one hot summer wearing those black turtlenecks of which Holmes was so fond. McKinnon may have dodged a bullet there, thoughshe’ll have her own costume nightmares to deal withwhen she playsTiger King’s queenCarole Baskinin aJoe Exoticseries coming to NBC, USA and Peacock.
KEEP READING:First Look at Amanda Seyfried’s Netflix Thriller ‘Things Heard & Seen’
