Billy Evans Seeks Control of Holmes Documentary
The partner of Elizabeth Holmes requested financial stakes and creative input for the A24 documentary, You Can See Everything.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Documentary
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Billy Evans demanded a financial stake and creative control during the production of the A24 documentary, You Can See Everything. Filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim rejected the request, citing concerns over journalistic integrity.
Why it matters
The request highlights tensions between documentary filmmakers and subjects seeking to manage their public image. Evans allegedly hoped to mirror the financial terms he believed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex secured for their media projects.
The documentary You Can See Everything has a three-hour runtime. Billy Evans cited an alleged $100 million deal between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Netflix as a benchmark for his own requested compensation.
The players
Elizabeth Holmes
She is the former CEO of the defunct blood-testing startup Theranos who was convicted of fraud.
Billy Evans
He is the partner of Elizabeth Holmes who lived with her in San Diego prior to her incarceration.
Nathan Fielder
He is a filmmaker and comedian known for his unique approach to docu-series and project production.
A24
It is an independent entertainment company that produced the documentary film You Can See Everything.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who signed a major production agreement with Netflix in 2020.
The details
Filmmakers lived in a guesthouse at the San Diego residence shared by Holmes and Evans to capture footage for the project. Evans attempted to leverage his proximity to the subject to influence the final product before Elizabeth Holmes reported to prison to serve her 11-year sentence.
Timeline
Harry and Meghan signed a Netflix production deal in 2020.
The Netflix series Harry and Meghan was released in 2022.
Elizabeth Holmes reported to federal prison in May 2023.
Nathan Fielder discussed the production at a screening in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This dispute illustrates the friction between independent documentary filmmaking and subjects who view their life story as a high-value commercial asset. It mirrors broader industry challenges regarding control in the era of celebrity-produced content.
Viewers can expect a candid look at the life of Elizabeth Holmes through the lens of independent filmmakers rather than a curated portrait. The project will be available as a three-hour film rather than a traditional episodic streaming series.
The takeaway
Documentary filmmaking relies on editorial independence to provide an objective view of complex events. Attempting to negotiate creative control as a subject of a documentary risks compromising the integrity of the project.
Further reading
For more context on non-fiction film trends, see the Documentary section.
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