"Verity "Director Reacts to Those Leaked Dakota Johnson Set Photos, Plus Fans' 'Wild' Reaction (Exclusive) Bailey RichardsDecember 28, 2025 at 3:00 AM 0 Aeon/GC Images Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson filming 'Verity' in New York City on March 12, 2025 Verity director Michael Showalter reacted to the leaked set photos of star Dakota Johnson in an exclusive chat with PEOPLE Showalter shared his thoughts on the photos, which leaked in March, at the Oh. What. Fun. premiere on Dec.
- - "Verity "Director Reacts to Those Leaked Dakota Johnson Set Photos, Plus Fans' 'Wild' Reaction (Exclusive)
Bailey RichardsDecember 28, 2025 at 3:00 AM
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Aeon/GC Images
Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson filming 'Verity' in New York City on March 12, 2025 -
Verity director Michael Showalter reacted to the leaked set photos of star Dakota Johnson in an exclusive chat with PEOPLE
Showalter shared his thoughts on the photos, which leaked in March, at the Oh. What. Fun. premiere on Dec. 2
Verity is an adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, and also stars Josh Hartnett and Anne Hathaway
Earlier this year, fans got an unexpected — and bloody — first look at Verity after some photos from the set leaked. Director Michael Showalter is sharing his thoughts.
The March snapshots of Josh Hartnett and a blood-splattered Dakota Johnson in New York City picked up serious steam on social media, with fans of the Colleen Hoover book the film is based on weighing in. It was the "perfect storm," the Verity director, 55, told PEOPLE.
Asked if he had a strong reaction to the leak at the Dec. 2 premiere of his new holiday movie Oh. What. Fun., the director said, "I mean, it was sort of wild to see that — how viral that went."
"But you know, people love Colleen Hoover and people love Dakota and people love blood," he continued, "and so the combination of those three things, I think, were a perfect storm."
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Michael Showalter at the premiere of 'Oh. What. Fun.' in N.Y.C. on Dec. 2, 2025
"I'm so excited for the movie," Showalter added.
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In the leaked set photos, Johnson, 36, who plays struggling writer Lowen, appeared to depict a scene from the book involving a car accident with a cyclist. In character as Jeremy Crawford, Hartnett, 47, then seemingly arrived in the scene as he and Johnson's character crossed a street together.
Verity also stars Anne Hathaway as best-selling thriller author Verity Crawford. The Amazon MGM Studios movie will tell the story of Johnson's struggling writer, who lands a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finish a successful series by the titular novelist.
Hathaway, 43, was also seen filming the adaptation in N.Y.C. with Harnett. In February, the costars were photographed running through the streets as they held hands.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
Dakota Johnson filming 'Verity' in New York City on March 12, 2025
While confirming that Hathaway had joined the movie back in November 2024, PEOPLE also reported that the Oscar-winning actress would work on the film as a producer alongside Showalter, whom she previously worked with on The Idea of You.
The 2024 romance film — like Verity and Oh. What. Fun. — is a story that centers on a mother.
Asked about the through line in his recent projects at the premiere of the Michelle Pfeiffer-fronted Christmas flick, Showalter admitted it wasn't exactly deliberate.
Theo Wargo/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Tim P. Whitby/Getty
Anne Hathaway; Josh Hartnett; Dakota Johnson
"It's not intentional, but I do somehow tend to gravitate towards stories with female protagonists. I'm not sure exactly why that is," the director told PEOPLE. "I'm not gonna question it, but I just… I somehow connect to their stories, myself, even though I'm not a woman, and so it's just kind of happened that way."
"There's no, like, big plan there," added Showalter, "but I definitely do really relate to these characters, and I feel sympathy for them and I feel love for them and I want to tell their story."
Verity will be released in theaters on May 15, 2026, as reported by multiple outlets, including Variety. Oh. What. Fun. is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: December 28, 2025 at 11:36AM on Source: RON MAG
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