‘Verity’ official trailer drops a disturbing twist for Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson’s psychological thriller

Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson are heading into deeply unsettling territory as the official trailer for Verity reveals a psychological mystery filled with disturbing secrets, hidden messages and questions about what is real. Based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2018 novel, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation places Johnson's Lowen Ashleigh at the centre of a dangerous situation involving Hathaway's celebrated author Verity Crawford.

The story begins when Lowen, a struggling writer, is brought in to complete the work of Verity Crawford after the successful author becomes unable to continue writing. What initially appears to be a major professional opportunity quickly becomes something far darker when Lowen discovers a collection of disturbing material inside Verity's home.

Among the discoveries is a manuscript containing unsettling confessions about Verity's family and her husband Jeremy, played by Josh Hartnett. Lowen is left trying to determine whether the material represents fiction created for a book or a horrifying account of events that actually happened.

The newly released trailer leans heavily into that uncertainty. Johnson's character is shown becoming increasingly disturbed as she attempts to understand Verity's world, while Hathaway's presence hangs over the story even when the two characters are not directly confronting one another. Surreal imagery, threatening encounters and unsettling revelations suggest that Lowen's investigation will take her far beyond the boundaries of a typical ghostwriting assignment.

The cast gives the adaptation considerable star power. Hathaway takes on the role of Verity Crawford, while Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh and Hartnett portrays Jeremy Crawford. Ismael Cruz Cordova is also part of the cast.

The film is directed by Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on the romantic comedy The Idea of You. Verity marks a significant change of genre for the filmmaker, moving into psychological thriller territory with a story built around suspicion, manipulation and competing versions of the truth.

Hoover has also been involved with the adaptation. The author previously discussed her experience working on the film, saying she had been able to spend time on set and become more actively involved in the production. Her involvement adds another layer of interest for readers who have followed the novel since its original publication.

The film also features podcast host Alex Cooper as herself. Cooper appears in the story while interviewing Verity, adding another element to the fictional author's public image and the secrets surrounding her.

Verity arrives after several of Hoover's novels have made the transition from page to screen. Her novel It Ends With Us became a major box office success despite extensive attention surrounding its production, while Reminders of Him and Regretting You have also received film adaptations.

However, Verity moves away from the romantic drama associated with several of those projects. Its central mystery revolves around whether Lowen can trust what she discovers and whether Verity's disturbing writings contain the truth.

The official trailer has now given audiences their clearest look yet at that unsettling premise. With Hathaway playing a mysterious author, Johnson portraying the woman determined to uncover her secrets and Hartnett caught between them, the adaptation is shaping up as a darker entry in Hoover's growing film catalogue.

Verity is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 2, 2026.