Netflix has released the first trailer for Apple Cider Vinegar, an upcoming six-part limited series inspired by the true story of Belle Gibson, a Aussie wellness influencer whose fabricated claims of curing terminal brain cancer shocked the world. Starring Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick, Unbelievable), the series dives into Gibson’s rise to fame and the fallout of her elaborate scam. Watch the teaser above and get all the info below…

The Real-Life Belle Gibson

The meteoric rise of Belle Gibson, born in 1991, began in 2013 with the launch of The Whole Pantry, a mobile app that offered recipes and wellness advice. The app was quickly a hit, amassing over 200,000 downloads in its first month alone and even earning Apple’s “Best Food and Drink App of 2013.” The momentum led to a cookbook deal with Penguin Books and a partnership with Apple to feature The Whole Pantry on the Apple Watch.

At the heart of Gibson’s empire was her claim that she had survived multiple cancers — including malignant brain cancer — through natural remedies. However, in 2015, her narrative began to unravel. Journalists discovered that Gibson had never been diagnosed with cancer, and her promises to donate $300,000 to charity were largely unfulfilled.

By 2017, Australia’s Federal Court ruled that Gibson’s conduct was “misleading and deceptive,” and she was fined $410,000. Despite these findings, multiple raids were conducted on her Melbourne home to recover the debt.

Looking at the Scandal – and the Rise of Problematic Social Media – Through a Fictionalised Lens

While Apple Cider Vinegar draws inspiration from Gibson’s real-life story, the series incorporates fictionalised characters and events to delve into broader themes. Netflix describes it as a “true-ish story based on a lie,” using Gibson’s deception as a springboard to explore wellness culture, the rise of social media, and the power of influence.

Series creator Samantha Strauss, known for Nine Perfect Strangers and The End, said to Netflix site Tudum: “It’s really interesting to look at how media uses food as a weapon against us and how much we crave the nourishment, but how much of a privilege and how expensive it is to try to be well.”

The series is set during the early days of Instagram, capturing a time when influencer culture was still in its infancy and largely unregulated. The show examines the cultural forces that allowed Gibson’s rise and the repercussions of unchecked social media influence.

The Show’s Cast and an Aussie Accent

Dever worked closely with a dialect coach to perfect her Australian accent, describing the process as a challenging but rewarding transformation. “Her accent work was extraordinary,” said Strauss. “It was a masterclass watching her and Jenny Kent, our accent coach.”

Dever, an American actor born in Phoenix, Arizona, said that she “didn’t want to let Australia down,” and would work with her accent coach “three times a week over Zoom and going over every single word” to ensure she could deliver.

“I love accent work in general, but there’s something about this accent in particular and how it allowed me to dive deep into someone else,” Dever said. “It was really helpful for me to separate myself from the character.”

Joining Dever is Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead) and Aisha Dee (The Bold Type), who portray characters navigating the alluring yet deceptive world of wellness culture. Tilda Cobham-Hervey (I Am Woman) portrays a follower drawn into the promises of alternative healing, while Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin) plays a sceptical figure whose perspective offers a counterpoint to the narrative’s central themes.

The supporting cast includes Essie Davis (The Babadook), Ashley Zukerman (Succession), Chai Hansen (Night Sky), and Phoenix Raei (The Night Agent).

The Behind-the-Scenes Team of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar was created by Samantha Strauss, known for her work on Nine Perfect Strangers and Dance Academy. Strauss also co-wrote the series with Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve, Fake) and Angela Betzien (Total Control).

Jeffrey Walker, whose directing credits include The Clearing, The Artful Dodger, and Modern Family, directed all six episodes. The production is backed by See-Saw Film and Picking Scabs.

The executive producers include Liz Watts, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning from See-Saw Films, as well as Strauss, Louise Gough, and lead star Kaitlyn Dever. Jeffrey Walker and See-Saw’s Simon Gillis are credited as co-executive producers, with Yvonne Collins as producer and Libby Sharpe as co-producer.

Release date?

Netflix has yet to announce the release date for Apple Cider Vinegar. As usual, you can expect the streamer to release all episodes – six in this case – all at once. We’ll update this article when a release date drops.