December 21, 2024: This upcoming Verity adaptation is shaping up to be a major event, especially with such a stellar cast and director attached to it. Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett are a great trio of actors to bring this suspense-filled psychological thriller to life. The casting alone creates a lot of buzz, and each actor has a unique ability to bring depth to their roles.
The plot sounds gripping. It centers on Lowen Ashleigh (played by Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who is hired by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) to finish his wife Verity’s popular book series after a tragic accident leaves Verity unable to continue writing. The discovery of a hidden manuscript with potentially dangerous revelations about the Crawford family adds layers of mystery and intrigue, setting up a classic psychological thriller.
The involvement of Michael Showalter as director is interesting, as he’s known for his work in both comedy and drama (The Big Sick, The Lovebirds), so it’ll be intriguing to see how he handles the darker, more suspenseful tone that Verity demands.
Also, the script by Nick Antosca is promising. He’s known for his work on Channel Zero and The Act, both of which dive into disturbing, psychological themes, which will likely help in creating the tension and atmosphere Verity is known for. The fact that multiple drafts were worked on by Colleen Hoover and other writers also suggests that the adaptation will stay true to the original book, which fans will appreciate.
The novel’s success speaks for itself. With over 1 million copies sold in 2023 alone, Verity has become a significant cultural phenomenon, and its transition to film is highly anticipated. Hoover’s other adaptation, It Ends With Us, which was released earlier this year, also did well, so fans of her writing will certainly be eager for this one as well.
As for Dakota Johnson’s career, her role in Madame Web shows her continued involvement in big franchise films, but Verity will allow her to flex her acting muscles in a more dramatic, suspenseful role. It will be interesting to see how she interprets Lowen, a character whose journey goes from being desperate and financially troubled to uncovering dangerous secrets.
With Verity shaping up to be a highly anticipated film, it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing a lot of attention around it when it’s released. Do you think this will follow in the footsteps of other popular book-to-film adaptations, especially those from Colleen Hoover’s catalog?
