Dakota Johnson walked the UK premiere red carpet in London on Thursday and told reporters that her new psychological thriller Verity is all about figuring out who to believe. The film, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, hits theaters worldwide starting September 30, 2026, with a wide release on October 2, 2026.
Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who gets hired to finish a book series for a famous author named Verity Crawford. Verity cannot write anymore after a bad accident. Lowen moves into the Crawford family’s remote home and finds what looks like Verity’s own life story in manuscript form. The things she reads make her question everything she thought she knew.
“It’s so thrilling, it’s so sexy,” Johnson said at the premiere. “You are constantly trying to figure out what the truth is and who the good people are and who the bad people are. It’s kind of a lot like life”.
What Verity Is About
The story follows Lowen as she settles into the Crawford estate to work on the final book in Verity’s popular series. Verity’s husband, Jeremy Crawford, played by Josh Hartnett, is the one who brings Lowen into their home. He tells her that doctors do not think his wife will ever walk or talk again.
Lowen finds an unpublished draft of Verity’s autobiography. Inside, she reads disturbing confessions about tragedies in the Crawford family, including questions about how one of their daughters died. As Lowen keeps reading, she starts to fall for Jeremy. She hides the manuscript to protect him, but later considers using it when she suspects Verity might be faking her condition.
The film leans into erotic themes more than the book does. Director Michael Showalter said he wanted to make a mainstream movie that trusted audiences to handle uncomfortable ideas.
“We are sexual creatures and this story explores that,” Showalter said.
Who Is in the Cast
Anne Hathaway plays Verity Crawford, the famous author who cannot speak or move after her accident. Hathaway won an Academy Award for her role in Les Misérables and has starred in films like The Devil Wears Prada and The Idea of You.
Dakota Johnson leads the film as Lowen Ashleigh. Johnson is known for the Fifty Shades trilogy and films like The Lost Daughter and Materialists. She said playing a darker role made her want to do more villainous parts.
Josh Hartnett stars as Jeremy Crawford. Hartnett has had a big career resurgence with roles in Oppenheimer and Trap.
The supporting cast includes Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brady Wagner, Asel Swango, and Daniel Echevarria.
Hathaway also served as a producer on the film alongside Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund through their company Eat the Cat.
What the Director and Cast Said
Showalter said he was drawn to the dark, inviting world Hoover created in the book.
“It felt like this very glamorous, hypnotic, inviting world that I wanted to lose myself into, but also very scary and suspenseful,” he said.
Hartnett said the film does not give easy answers about who the bad guy is. He compared it to a choose-your-own-adventure story and said he hopes it gets people talking after the credits roll.
“I want to hear lots of arguments. I want to see people throwing popcorn in other people’s faces,” he joked.
Hartnett also praised his co-stars. “These two are just right up there with all the very best in our industry,” he said. “This whole film exists on their two faces”.
Hoover was closely involved in making the film and even has a small cameo appearance, Showalter confirmed.
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Release Dates and Where to Watch
Verity begins its global cinematic rollout on September 30, 2026, with the wide release set for October 2, 2026.
The film is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing International. It will play exclusively in theaters first. After its theatrical run, it is expected to stream on Prime Video, though no digital release date has been announced yet.
In India, the film releases on October 2, 2026, in cinemas only. The same date applies to the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
The film runs 117 minutes and has been classified for audiences aged 17 and above in Indonesia due to violent content.
This is the latest Colleen Hoover book to become a movie. Hoover’s It Ends With Us, Regretting You, and Reminders of Him all made it to screens before Verity.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Verity and other Hollywood releases.
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