Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book Verity is being turned into a movie. Here’s what we know about the film so far, including its cast featuring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.
As the legal battle between It Ends With Us costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni wages on, Colleen Hoover is ready to turn the page and focus on adapting another one of her books—2018’s Verity—onto the big screen.
The romantic thriller tells the story of struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh—who is offered the chance to finish renowned author Verity Crawford’s popular book series when an accident leaves Verity unable to complete the job. After agreeing to take on the project, Lowen moves in with Verity and husband Jeremy Crawford and begins sifting through Verity’s notes on the books. But during this process, she comes across Verity’s unfinished autobiography containing jaw-dropping admissions. While Lowen initially decides not to show the manuscript to Jeremy, she begins having second thoughts once she develops feelings for him.
Like so many of her novels, Colleen’s Verity was a popular conversation on BookTok. And last May, news broke that the best-selling page-turner would be turned into a movie.
The biggest question among fans: Who would play Lowen, Verity and Jeremy? Three months into the project, Colleen confirmed the casting process was underway.
“I just read the script,” she said on an August episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “I’m super excited about it. We’re having actor talks next week.”
By the end of 2024, the lineup was set with Anne Hathaway cast as Verity, Dakota Johnson earning the part of Lowen and Josh Hartnett taking on the role of Jeremy.
Though photos prove that filming is underway, a release date hasn’t yet been set. But that hasn’t stopped fans from already being seated. So, consider us an open book as we share everything we know about the movie so far.
What Is Verity About?
Verity is based on Colleen Hoover‘s best-selling novel of the same name.
In the 2018 romantic thriller, struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh is hired by Jeremy Crawford to finish the popular book series created by his famous author wife Verity Crawford after an accident leaves Verity unable to finish the project.
Lowen moves into the Crawfords’ home and begins going through Verity’s trove of notes on the books. But during this process, she finds Verity’s unfinished autobiography containing shocking confessions. After initially deciding not to reveal the manuscript to Jeremy, Lowen has second thoughts once she forms feelings for him.
So far, it looks like the movie stays pretty close to the book.
“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,” the movie’s logline, obtained by Variety, reads. “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.”
Anne Hathaway Is Playing Verity Crawford
Is Anne Hathaway really starring in Verity? If Miranda Priestly were here, she’d tell you to please bore someone else with your questions.
But it’s true! In November 2024, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed The Devil Wears Prada star is playing the titular character in Verity.
While Anne has yet to comment on the casting herself, she was spotted on the movie’s set in February 2025. And Colleen has made it clear she’s thrilled to have the Oscar winner—who is also a producer for the film—on board.
“Verity is coming to theaters and I am so excited for this cast and the script and the director and the whole team bringing this to life,” the author wrote on Facebook in November. “Cannot wait. More coming soon!”
Dakota Johnson Is Portraying Lowen Ashleigh
More news did come soon, and fans were fifty shades of tickled pink to find out in December 2024 that Dakota Johnson was joining the cast as Lowen Ashleigh.
Like Anne, Dakota is also a producer on the film. In fact, the actress has a book club inspired by her pursuit for quality content for her production company TeaTime Pictures.
“There are a lot of people who do things like I do and they have book clubs, and I was always like, Oh, the way that I read books, it’s so different,” she told Bustle in March 2024. “I want to fall down the rabbit hole every time I read… to invest in the book, invest in the language, invest in the references.”
Lia Toby/Getty ImagesJosh Hartnett Is Cast as Jeremy Crawford
At the same time as Dakota’s cast announcement, producers revealed that Josh Hartnett would be taking on the role of Jeremy Crawford.
Like his costars, the Black Hawk Down actor has stayed tight-lipped on Verity. However, he was seen filming with Anne in February.
After the three main stars were revealed, Colleen shared how she felt about the cast, noting in a December Instagram post “excited is an understatement.”
KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty ImagesMichael Showalter Is Directing
Michael Showalter is back in the director’s chair.
According to Variety, the filmmaker is directing Verity and serving as a producer alongside Anne, Colleen, Dakota and others.
Michael and Anne have worked together before, including on the 2024 film adaptation of The Idea of You.
As for the writer, Variety noted the current Verity script is penned by Nick Antosca—who’s worked on TV shows like Candy and The Act—with previous versions written by Colleen and Lauren Levine, Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna, as well as Will Honley and April Maguire.
BACKGRIDFilming Has Started
Lights, camera, action!
Josh and Anne were photographed filming Verity in Queens, New York in February 2025. For one scene, The Princess Diaries alum wore a high-neck, semi-sheer white dress that she accessorized with a matching belt, sunglasses and leopard-print heels.
As for the Black Mirror alum, he donned a gray shirt underneath a navy suit along with a brown belt and coordinating shoes.
Anne and Josh were also seen working on a scene in which they’re smiling and running as he’s sporting a white button-down shirt, black pants and a bow-tie and she’s holding his suit jacket (see the pic here).
The release date for the movie has yet be announced.
