We had previously reported that Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett and Anne Hathaway are teaming up for the film adaptation of the best selling book Verity by noted author Colleen Hoover. Amazon MGM Studios has now announced that the film, directed by Michael Showalter will be released in theaters on May 15, 2026.
The film, described to be a "gothic, psychosexual thriller in the vein of Rebecca and Gone Girl," also stars Ismael Cruz Cordóva and Brady Wagner. The film's current script has been written by Nick Antosca. Previous versions were penned by Hoover and Lauren Levine; Hillary Seitz; Angela LaManna; and Will Honley and April Maguire.
Johnson plays 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. However, "her assignment takes a dark turn after discovering chilling autobiographical notes," the logline of the film reads. Knowing secrets that can potentially break the family, Lowen struggles to fiction from reality, while also blurring the lines with Verity’s husband, Jeremy.
Verity was self published in 2018 by Hoover and instantly became a hit worldwide. The film adaptation comes months after the success of It Ends With Us, the film version of her another bestseller of the same name starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Hathaway, Hoover, and Showalter are producing 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 is also an executive producer.