Colleen Hoover, the bestselling author behind It Ends With Us and Reminders of Him, is bringing another of her hit novels to the big screen. Her 2018 psychological thriller Verity has become one of her most popular and talked-about books, captivating readers with its secrets, twists, and unsettling family drama.
Now, the bestselling novel is getting the Hollywood treatment.
Starring Anne Hathaway as the mysterious Verity Crawford, Dakota Johnson as struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, and Josh Hartnett as Verity’s husband, Jeremy, the film brings Hoover’s thriller to theaters in 2026.
With a star-studded cast and plenty of questions about how the controversial story will translate to film, there’s already plenty of interest surrounding the adaptation.
Here’s everything we know about the Verity movie, from its release date and cast to the story, creative team, and what fans can expect from the adaptation.
What Is Verity About?
Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who accepts a job from Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling thriller author Verity Crawford. After a mysterious accident leaves Verity unable to finish her successful book series, Jeremy hires Lowen to complete the remaining novels.
But when Lowen arrives at the Crawford family’s lavish home, she discovers a secret unfinished manuscript containing disturbing revelations about the family’s past.
As Lowen grows closer to Jeremy and his young son, Crew, she must determine whether Verity’s writing is simply the work of a disturbed imagination or a terrifying confession.
Verity
When Will Verity Come Out in Theaters?
Verity will be released exclusively in theaters on October 2, 2026.
Amazon MGM Studios announced the release date in July 2025, giving fans of Colleen Hoover's bestselling thriller a little over a year to wait before seeing the story on the big screen.
Who Is Author Colleen Hoover?
Colleen Hoover went from working as a social worker in Texas for $9 an hour to becoming one of the world's bestselling authors. She self-published her debut novel, Slammed, in 2012 without a literary agent, marketing budget, or traditional publishing deal.
After the book received a five-star review from book blogger Maryse Black, its sales quickly took off, eventually leading Hoover to leave social work and write full-time.
Her 2016 novel It Ends with Us became her biggest bestseller and was adapted into a 2024 film starring Blake Lively. By 2022, Hoover had sold approximately 20 million books, and Time named her one of the world's 100 most influential people in 2023.
Verity is a darker departure from Hoover's predominantly romance-focused work. Originally self-published in 2018, the psychological thriller was acquired by Grand Central Publishing in 2021 and has since become one of her most popular books.
Who Is Starring in Verity?
Anne Hathaway stars as Verity Crawford, the bestselling thriller author at the center of the story, while Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer. Josh Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, Verity's husband.
The supporting cast includes Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brady Wagner, Irina Dvorovenko, K.K. Moggie, and Michael Abbott Jr. Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper will also appear in the film as herself, interviewing Verity Crawford in an on-screen interview.
The film is directed by Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on The Idea of You. Nick Antosca wrote the screenplay, who is known for television series including Candy and The Act.
The producers include Nick Antosca, Michael Showalter, Alex Hedlund, Stacey Sher, Jordana Mollick, Anne Hathaway, and Colleen Hoover. Dakota Johnson, Lauren Levine, and Kerry Orent serve as executive producers.
