Dakota Johnson Opens Up About Filming Steamy ‘Verity’ Scenes With Anne Hathaway

Colleen Hoover’s ‘Verity‘ has spent years as one of the most talked-about thrillers in book circles. The 2018 novel is known for its twisty plot, dark secrets and unsettling tone. Fans have been waiting to see how it would translate to the screen, and the wait is nearly over.

The film adaptation opens in theaters on October 2 through Amazon MGM Studios. Michael Showalter directs, reuniting with Anne Hathaway after ‘The Idea of You’, from a screenplay by Nick Antosca. It stars Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, and Hoover and Hathaway are among the producers.

Now the actresses are talking about what happens behind the scenes. Dakota Johnson’s steamy ‘Verity’ scenes with Anne Hathaway are drawing attention, and Johnson has described filming them as incredibly enjoyable.

Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer on the verge of financial ruin. Hartnett’s Jeremy Crawford hires her to finish a successful book series written by his wife, Verity, played by Hathaway, who can no longer write after a serious car accident. Lowen moves into the Crawford home to work on the unfinished novels.

Things quickly take a sinister turn. As she digs into Verity’s life, Lowen discovers chilling autobiographical notes, and the lines between reality, fiction and fantasy begin to blur. Out noted that some of Lowen’s hallucinations and dreams involve her making out with Verity, which delighted queer fans when they appeared in the trailer.

Showalter has spoken about how the film’s more sensual scenes came together. In an interview with Variety published September 23, he said he evolved certain moments from the book to add sexual tension. One example is an intimate hug between Lowen and Jeremy that he saw as potentially charged.

Hathaway and Johnson then pushed the idea further. Showalter said the actresses suggested that a make-out scene between Lowen and Jeremy could turn into one with Verity, and that he agreed. He described the improvised moment as sexy and transgressive, and it ultimately made it into the trailer.

The steamy content is part of a broader tone. Most outlets describe the film as an R-rated psychological thriller with erotic elements. Showalter explained that the sexual tension helps carry the story’s darker themes.

Johnson has also talked about her role in less romantic terms. In an interview with Deadline, she described Lowen as something like the bad guy and said the part was fun. That mix of playful and ominous seems to be what the film is going for.

Hey, it’s Verity. Only in theaters October 2. #VerityFilm pic.twitter.com/tIC5kHzfQW

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) September 22, 2026

The movie has been in development for years. It was first slated for May 15, 2026, before Amazon MGM moved it to October in July 2025, a better fit for a dark thriller heading into Halloween. Filming took place in early 2025, largely in and around New York City.

Volker Bertelmann, who won an Oscar for ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, composed the score. Wikipedia lists a $40 million budget. Amazon showed first-look footage at CinemaCon before releasing a teaser and a fuller trailer in August.

The three leads bring very different energy. Hathaway plays the mysterious title character, Johnson takes the lead as the outsider drawn into a house of secrets, and Hartnett plays the conflicted husband. Together they form the triangle at the center of Hoover’s story.

Hathaway and Showalter’s earlier collaboration on ‘The Idea of You’ gives them a comfortable working rhythm, which may have helped the actresses feel free to experiment. Johnson is also an executive producer on the film. That may explain why the improvised moments made it into the finished movie.

With only a few days left before release, the promotional push is in full swing. Fans of the book will be watching to see how the film handles its most infamous twists. Others are simply curious to see how much of the steamy material survives on the big screen.

The comments from Johnson suggest a cast that trusted each other, which can go a long way in a psychological thriller. If the finished film matches that energy, it could become one of the season’s most talked-about releases.

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