Netflix Sets Australian Drama Series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ About Wellness Industry Fraud

Netflix is boosting its Australian slate with a limited drama series titled Apple Cider Vinegar, which tells the story of a notorious scam in the health and wellness industry. Produced with Australia’s See-Saw Films and Picking Scabs, the show will be directed by Jeffrey Walker (The Artful Dodger, Modern Family) and co-star star Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Aisha Dee.

The series is created by award-winning Australian writer Samantha Strauss (Nine Perfect Strangers), who is scripting the show with Anya Beyersdorf and Angela Betzien. 

The series is inspired by the real-life story of disgraced Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson, who built a massive social media following by claiming that she was successfully overcoming a terminal brain cancer diagnosis via healthy eating and other wellness remedies.

Netflix’s summary for the project reads: “Apple Cider Vinegar takes place at the birth of social media and follows two young Women – Belle and Milla – who set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, motivating their growing online communities along the way. All of which would be inspiring if it were true.”

Production is set to take place on location in Melbourne, Australia with support from VicScreen through its Victorian Production Fund.

Dever is best known for Dopesick and Unbelievable, while Debnam-Carey’s credits include The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart and Fear The Walking Dead. Aisha Dee has appeared in The Bold Type and Safe Home. Additional cast includes Tilda Cobham-Hervey (The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart), Ashley Zukerman (Succession) and Mark Coles Smith (Mystery Road: Origin).

See-Saw Films’ Liz Watts, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning will executive produce the series, alongside Picking Scabs’ Samantha Strauss, Louise Gough, and Dever. Yvonne Collins is credited as a producer.

“Samantha Strauss has created a series that is searing in its comment but entertaining at its very core,” executive producers Watts and Gough said in a joint statement. It’s complex, it’s got bounce and it’s got bite, and we love it. We have a brilliant creative team under the fine leadership of director Jeffrey Walker and one of the best cast ensembles in an Australian production. This is a Melbourne story with a global reach.”

Sherman and Canning added: “We are delighted to announce Apple Cider Vinegar as the first production through Picking Scabs, See-Saw’s label with Samantha Strauss. Sam is an exceptional and rare talent, and we have an incredibly exciting upcoming slate. Thank you to VicScreen for their support, and our thanks to Netflix who are the perfect partner to take this story to the world.”