Josh Hartnett shares 'Verity' set details amid It Ends With Us intimacy controversy

Josh Hartnett has opened up about working with an intimacy coordinator while filming intimate scenes with Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson for Verity, amid continued attention surrounding the It Ends With Us drama.

Speaking to ABC News Live Prime, Hartnett said intimacy coordination “played a big part” in the Colleen Hoover adaptation. He also praised Hathaway, Johnson and director Michael Showalter for creating a relaxed atmosphere during production.

Hartnett said the cast quickly became friends and often laughed between takes, despite the film’s darker subject matter. He joked that if they worked together again, their next project would have to be a comedy.

The comments come as intimacy coordinators remain a topic of discussion following the controversy surrounding It Ends With Us. Blake Lively alleged in her legal complaint that intimacy protocols were not followed during filming and raised concerns about the handling of intimate scenes. Baldoni denied Lively’s allegations. The legal dispute between the two actors was settled in May 2026 without the case proceeding to trial.

In Verity, Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired to ghostwrite for bestselling author Verity Crawford, portrayed by Hathaway. After arriving at the Crawford estate, Lowen discovers disturbing autobiographical writings involving Verity’s husband Jeremy, played by Hartnett.

Hartnett described Hathaway and Johnson as “professional and intentional” actors and said their chemistry developed through the film’s complicated relationships. Recent coverage has also highlighted a steamy scene between Hathaway and Johnson that director Showalter said was improvised during filming.

Verity, directed by Showalter, is based on Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller and stars Hartnett, Hathaway and Johnson.