Verity Director Reacts to Bloody Set Photo Leak That Took Over Social Media

Earlier this year, fans of Verity got a shocking — and very bloody — surprise when photos from the film’s New York City set leaked online. Now, director Michael Showalter is opening up about what it was like to watch the moment explode across the internet.

The leaked images, which surfaced in March, showed Dakota Johnson covered in blood alongside Josh Hartnett during what appeared to be an intense street scene. Fans of Colleen Hoover quickly began speculating about which moment from the bestselling thriller was being filmed — and social media ran with it.

“It was sort of wild to see how viral that went,” Showalter said while attending the Dec. 2 premiere of his holiday movie Oh. What. Fun.. According to the director, the reaction made sense. “People love Colleen Hoover, people love Dakota, and people love blood,” he joked. “That combination was kind of a perfect storm.”

Despite the unexpected leak, Showalter made it clear he’s thrilled about the project. “I’m so excited for the movie,” he added.

In the leaked photos, Johnson — who plays struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh — appeared to be filming a scene tied to a dramatic accident from the novel. Hartnett, playing Jeremy Crawford, was seen joining her character as they crossed a city street, further fueling fan theories.

The adaptation also stars Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford, the famous but mysterious author at the center of the story. Hathaway was spotted filming in New York earlier this year with Hartnett, including scenes where the two were seen running hand-in-hand through the streets.

Hathaway’s involvement was confirmed in November 2024, with reports also revealing she is producing the film alongside Showalter. The two previously worked together on The Idea of You, another female-driven story — something Showalter says keeps happening naturally in his career.

“It’s not intentional,” he explained. “But I do tend to gravitate toward stories with female protagonists. I connect to them. I feel sympathy for them, I feel love for them, and I want to tell their story.”

Verity follows a struggling writer who lands a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finish a bestselling series — only to uncover disturbing secrets along the way. The film is backed by Amazon MGM Studios and is scheduled to hit theaters on May 15, 2026.

If the online reaction to a few leaked photos is any indication, anticipation for Verity is already running high.