New ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ Trailer: Here’s What to Know About the Australia-Set Netflix Series

Netflix has dropped the official trailer for upcoming limited series Apple Cider Vinegar, a six-episode deep dive into the rise and fall of a real-life fraudulent wellness empire. Based on the true story of Australian influencer Belle Gibson, the series looks at the allure of wellness culture, the early days of Instagram, and the unchecked spread of misinformation online. Watch the trailer above and continue below for what you need to know about the series…

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar About?

Starring Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick) as Belle Gibson, Apple Cider Vinegar unpacks the story of a wellness influencer who claimed to have cured her terminal brain cancer through health and wellness practices. The problem? Gibson never had cancer in the first place.

The young Australian wellness influencer became a global sensation in 2013. Her empire began with the launch of The Whole Pantry, a mobile app offering recipes and wellness advice that amassed over 200,000 downloads within its first month and earned accolades like Apple’s “Best Food and Drink App of 2013.” The success led to a cookbook deal with Penguin Books and even a high-profile partnership with Apple to feature her app on the Apple Watch. Central to Gibson’s platform was her claim that she had survived multiple cancers through natural remedies—a narrative that began to unravel in 2015 when investigations revealed she had never been diagnosed with cancer. Further scrutiny exposed her failure to donate $300,000 in pledged charity funds. By 2017, Australia’s Federal Court deemed her conduct “misleading and deceptive,” resulting in a $410,000 fine and multiple raids on her Melbourne home to recover the debt.

Creator Samantha Strauss (Nine Perfect Strangers) described the series as a “true-ish story based on a lie” that interrogates how society navigates food, privilege, and health. “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,” Strauss said to Netflix site Tudum.

Who Stars in Apple Cider Vinegar?

Dever leads the cast as Belle Gibson, the controversial Australian influencer. Known for her roles in Dopesick and Unbelievable (and soon to be seen in The Last of Us season 2), Dever worked extensively with a dialect coach to perfect her Australian accent. Reflecting on the process, Dever said, “Jenny and I were seeing each other three times a week over Zoom and going over every single word that I say, kind of like I would a song, memorising those sounds.” She added, “I didn’t want to let Australia down.”

Joining Dever is Alycia Debnam-Carey (The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Fear the Walking Dead), who plays Milla Blake, another wellness influencer navigating the murky waters of health-focused social media. Aisha Dee (The Bold Type, Safe Home) stars as Chanelle, Milla’s close friend who becomes entangled in Belle’s growing empire after a chance meeting at an event.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey (I Am Woman) takes on the role of Lucy, a woman battling cancer who becomes captivated by the promises of both Belle and Milla’s platforms. Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin) plays Lucy’s husband, a voice of scepticism in a world eager to believe in wellness miracles.

The cast also includes notable names like Essie Davis (The Babadook, Game of Thrones), Ashley Zukerman (Succession), Phoenix Raei (The Night Agent), and Susie Porter (Wentworth). Matt Nable (Transfusion), Chai Hansen (Night Sky), and Richard Davies (Offspring) round out the ensemble alongside Catherine McClements (Total Control) and Kieran Darcy-Smith (Mr Inbetween).

Where Was It Filmed?

The series was shot on location in Melbourne, with scenes spanning the city’s vibrant streets and lush outer regions. Strauss explained the intent was to make Melbourne an aspirational backdrop: “We had so many locations that took us from far-flung parts of Melbourne one day to the Dandenong Ranges the next.”

Behind the Scenes

Apple Cider Vinegar is the brainchild of Strauss, with episodes co-written by Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve) and Angela Betzien (Total Control). The series is directed by Jeffrey Walker (The Clearing) and produced by See-Saw Films, the company behind The Power of the Dog.

When Can You Watch It?

All six episodes of Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar will begin streaming globally on Netflix from 6 February.

Netflix