Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' eyes the big screen

Despite the PR nightmare that was It Ends With Us, Colleen Hoover's work is carving out a definitive space in Hollywood's literary-to-film pipeline with her bestselling novel Verity now heading to the big screen, as per Deadline.

Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Oscar winner Anne Hathaway will lead the cast of Verity, a psychological thriller directed by Michael Showalter. The duo previously collaborated on The Idea of You, and their reunion signals another high-profile project for the streaming giant. The film, based on Hoover's New York Times chart-topper, boasts a script developed by Nick Antosca, with earlier drafts contributed by Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna, and others. Industry sources suggest Verity will be a theatrical release, which says a lot about its box office potential.

The narrative follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer offered the job of a lifetime: completing a successful book series on behalf of Verity Crawford, a famous thriller author incapacitated by a mysterious accident. Lowen arrives at the Crawfords' estate, only to uncover a disturbing, unfinished manuscript that reveals unsettling secrets about the family's past. As Lowen becomes entwined with Verity's husband Jeremy and their son Crew, she must grapple with the chilling question: is the manuscript a twisted work of fiction or a terrifying glimpse into reality?

Hathaway, who will portray the titular character, joins a robust production team that includes Showalter and Jordana Mollick under their Semi-Formal Productions banner, Colleen Hoover herself through Heartbones Entertainment, and Hathaway's own Somewhere Pictures. Stacey Sher and Lauren Levine round out the producing lineup, ensuring a star-studded roster behind the scenes as well.

First self-published in 2018, Verity quickly garnered a massive following, leading to its acquisition by Grand Central Publishing in 2021. The novel's gothic, psychological intensity has drawn comparisons to classics like Rebecca and modern hits like Gone Girl. With over a million copies sold in 2023 alone, its popularity shows no signs of waning—a fact Hollywood has clearly taken notice of.

The timing of Verity's production could not be better. It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, was released earlier this year to resounding box office success, amassing $346 million globally. The adaptation's triumph has sparked a renewed interest in Hoover's literary catalog, making her one of the most sought-after authors in contemporary film development.