Actress Dakota Johnson attended the United Kingdom premiere of psychological thriller Verity on Thursday, September 24, alongside co-stars Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett. The feature film is adapted from the best-selling novel by author Colleen Hoover and directed by filmmaker Michael Showalter.
The plot follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, played by Johnson, who is hired to complete a successful book series for renowned author Verity Crawford, portrayed by Hathaway. The assignment comes after Crawford suffers an accident that leaves her incapacitated and unable to continue writing.
To finish the project, Ashleigh moves into the Crawford family isolated estate, where she discovers an unpublished autobiographical manuscript written by Verity. As disturbing secrets surface from the manuscript, the line between truth and manipulation begins to blur.
Speaking at the premiere in the United Kingdom, Johnson said the psychological thriller explores the real-world challenge of discerning truth and deciding whom to trust. She described the film as exciting and sexy, adding that viewers are constantly trying to figure out who is good and who is bad, which she compared to real life.
Johnson gained international recognition for her starring role as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades film trilogy. She told Reuters that working on the dark themes of Verity increased her appetite for playing villainous characters in future projects, stating that she would love to play a villain because portraying a crazy person is very fun.
Adapting Colleen Hoover Novel for Cinema
Director Michael Showalter said he was fascinated by the dark and seductive attraction created by Hoover in her story. He described the film as a hypnotic and glamorous world that felt inviting to explore, while simultaneously remaining scary and full of suspense.
Hoover built a massive global readership through online popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, turning her romance and thriller novels into major literary hits. Verity is the latest of her works to reach the big screen, capitalizing on the success of It Ends With Us, directed by Justin Baldoni.
Showalter said Hoover remained closely involved throughout the filming process and even makes a cameo appearance in the movie. The director acknowledged that while the adaptation stays largely faithful to the book, the film delves even deeper into erotic themes, stating that humans are sexual creatures and the story explores that aspect of life.
Addressing his broader approach to the project, Showalter explained that he wanted to make a commercial Hollywood movie that trusts the ability of moviegoers to engage with uncomfortable ideas. He added that it is important for mainstream cinema to address difficult topics that go beyond everyday experiences.
Cast Performances and Narrative Ambiguity
Co-star Josh Hartnett, who plays Verity husband Jeremy Crawford, said what drew him to the project was the refusal of the film to supply simple answers. The Oppenheimer actor described the story as a choose your own adventure regarding which character is the villain, noting that many modern movies feed everything pre-chewed to the audience.
Hartnett expressed hope that the open-ended nature of the thriller will prompt discussions among cinema visitors, joking that he wants to hear debate and see people throwing popcorn at each other. He added that he was hypnotised watching Hathaway and Johnson perform, praising them as top actors in the industry who carry the entire film.
Hathaway is an Academy Award winner known for her roles in Les Misérables and The Devil Wears Prada, while Hartnett has starred in major feature films such as Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down. Showalter previously directed acclaimed films including The Big Sick and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Following its premiere in the United Kingdom, Verity is scheduled to open in Brazilian cinemas on October 1.
