Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett are set to join Anne Hathaway in the film adaptation of the best selling book Verity by noted author Colleen Hoover. The upcoming film will be directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You) and will be released theatrically by Amazon MGM.
Johnson will play Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer whose financial downfall is imminent. During the time, she accepts a golden job offer where she is entasked with completing the remaining books in a successful series by best-selling thriller author Verity Crawford (Hathaway). Hartnett essays Verity's husband Jeremy. He hires Ashleigh after her wife is unable to complete the books following a mysterious accident.
The film's logline reads, “Upon arrival at the lavish Crawford estate, Lowen slowly learns that things are not exactly as they seem with the discovery of a secret, unfinished manuscript that may divulge chilling admissions about the family’s past. As Lowen ingratiates herself with Jeremy and his young son Crew, she must discern if Verity’s writings are merely lurid works of fiction or an ominous warning by a deranged psychopath.” The film is described to be a "gothic, psychosexual thriller in the vein of Rebecca and Gone Girl."
Nick Antosca has written the current script following the previous work of Hoover and Lauren Levine, scribes Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna and the team of Will Honley and April Maguire.
Verity was published in 2018 and instantly became a hit worldwide. The film adaptation comes close to the heels of the success of It Ends With Us starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Hathaway, Hoover, and Showalter will produce Verity film adaptation through their respective production companies: Somewhere Pictures, Heartbones Entertainment, and Semi-Formal Productions. Additional producers include Antosca of Eat the Cat, Jordana Mollick of Semi-Formal, and Stacey Sher of Shiny Penny, with Lauren Levine from Heartbones serving as executive producer. Johnson has also joined the team as an executive producer.
Two other books of Colleen Hoover: Reminders Of Him and Regretting You are also being made into films. Vanessa Caswill is set to direct Reminders Of Him while Regretting You is helmed by Josh Boone. The latter stars McKenna Grace, Dave Franco, and Allison William in lead roles.