Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson deliver a shocking kiss in the latest trailer for the psychosexual thriller Verity, captivating viewers with its intensity.
The 43-year-old actress, known for The Devil Wears Prada 2, and the 36-year-old star of Splitsville lock lips in the nearly two-minute preview released by Amazon MGM Studios. The scene escalates as Johnson shares a mouth-to-mouth moment with Josh Hartnett, only for Hathaway to step in, ending with a dramatic bloody bite.
Plot Summary
Verity centers on Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer played by Dakota Johnson, who receives a life-changing opportunity. Verity Crawford (Hathaway), a renowned thriller author, suffers a mysterious accident that leaves her incapacitated. Her husband, Jeremy (Hartnett), hires Lowen to ghostwrite the remaining books in Verity’s series.
Working at the couple’s lavish estate, Lowen uncovers an unfinished manuscript exposing dark secrets about Verity and Jeremy’s history. She must decide if the revelations are fictional or a perilous warning from a cunning adversary.
Production and Cast Details
Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2018 self-published novel by Nick Antosca and directed by Michael Showalter, the film arrives in theaters on October 2. Additional cast includes Ismael Cruz Córdova and Brady Wagner.
Hathaway’s involvement was revealed in November 2024, following the release of Hoover’s It Ends With Us adaptation. Hoover, famed for romance and young adult novels, has faced criticism for repetitive plot elements.
Fan Reactions Ignite
Initial fan responses to Hathaway’s casting were mixed, with some expressing dismay on social media. One user posted, “Anne Hathaway, you are Queen of Genovia. You do not need to stoop to these levels,” nodding to her role in The Princess Diaries. Another remarked, “Not even Anne Hathaway will convince me to watch anything with Colleen Hoover as the blueprint.”
The trailer’s debut shifted sentiments, sparking widespread excitement. A YouTube commenter hailed Hathaway as the “movie queen of 2026,” citing her lineup including Mother Mary, Devil Wears Prada 2, Odyssey, End of Oak Street, and Verity. Others predicted, “Anne Hathaway & Josh Hartnett will be incredible in Verity.”
Enthusiasts raved, “Read the book in one day and can’t wait for the movie!!” and “Anne has four or five movies she’s starring in this year. Such a movie star.” One fan joked, “I thought I was over my Anne Hathaway obsession… guess not,” while another noted, “You close your eyes, and then open them back and you see Anne Hathaway everywhere.”
