Dakota Johnson has opened up about her experience working alongside Anne Hathaway in Verity, revealing that their off-camera bond was filled with laughter, conversations and, surprisingly, hot dogs.
The two actresses headline the upcoming psychological thriller based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel Verity, with Johnson playing struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh and Hathaway portraying acclaimed author Verity Crawford. While their characters exist in a tense and mysterious world, Johnson says her relationship with Hathaway away from the cameras was considerably more relaxed.
In an exclusive conversation, Johnson recalled how the pair would spend time between takes talking, joking and enjoying food together. One particularly memorable moment came when Hathaway arranged for a hot dog cart to be brought onto the set.
“She brought a hot dog cart to set one day,” Johnson recalled, describing the experience as one of the fun moments that helped make the intense production enjoyable.
Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway’s Unexpected Verity Bond
The casting of Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway has been one of the major talking points surrounding Verity. The film brings together two widely recognized actresses for a story built around mystery, secrets and conflicting versions of the truth.
However, Johnson says their off-screen dynamic was much lighter than the atmosphere of the film.
According to Johnson, she has long been a fan of Hathaway and enjoyed getting to know her during production. Although the actresses do not have extensive casual conversations within the movie’s scenes, Johnson said they made up for that between takes.
The actress described their time together as involving plenty of laughing, joking, deep conversations and eating hot dogs.
The hot dog cart became an especially memorable example of Hathaway’s personality on set. Rather than allowing the dark subject matter of Verity to dominate every moment of production, the cast could relax and enjoy themselves between scenes.
Johnson also praised Hathaway’s contribution beyond acting, noting that she was involved as a producer and was committed to helping the production achieve the strongest version of each scene.
Who Does Dakota Johnson Play in Verity?
Dakota Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer whose life changes when she receives an unusual professional opportunity.
In Verity, Lowen is hired to continue the work of celebrated author Verity Crawford, who is unable to complete her popular book series.
Lowen subsequently enters the Crawford family’s world and begins working through Verity’s material. What initially appears to be a major career opportunity gradually becomes much more complicated.
The story centers on secrets, uncertainty and the question of whether Lowen can trust what she discovers.
Variety previously described the film as an adaptation of Hoover’s psychological thriller, with Johnson starring alongside Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.
Anne Hathaway Plays Verity Crawford
Anne Hathaway takes on the title role of Verity Crawford, a successful author surrounded by mystery.
Hathaway’s character is at the center of the story’s biggest questions, while Lowen becomes increasingly involved with the Crawford family.
Hathaway also serves as one of the film’s producers, giving her involvement with Verity an additional creative dimension.
Director Michael Showalter previously worked with Hathaway on The Idea of You, and she was reportedly among the filmmaker’s key choices for the role.
Hathaway herself has spoken positively about Hoover’s novel, explaining that she found the book difficult to put down because of its fast-moving storytelling.
Why the Hot Dog Cart Story Stands Out
The hot dog story may sound like a small behind-the-scenes detail, but it provides an interesting contrast to the movie itself.
Verity is built around psychological tension, mystery and questions about what is real and what is not. The production therefore involved material that was considerably darker than the casual moments Johnson remembers between takes.
Johnson’s comments show how actors can create a relaxed atmosphere even while working on emotionally demanding material.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the intensity of the film, the actresses were able to spend time laughing and having conversations away from the camera.
For fans, the anecdote also offers a glimpse into the chemistry between Johnson and Hathaway before audiences see them together in their respective roles.
What Is Verity About?
Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh, a writer who receives the opportunity to complete the unfinished work of famous author Verity Crawford.
After entering Verity’s home and becoming involved with her family, Lowen discovers material that raises serious questions about Verity and the events surrounding the Crawford household.
The deeper Lowen goes into the mystery, the more difficult it becomes to determine what is fact and what may be fiction.
That uncertainty forms the central hook of the movie.
The official premise previously reported by Variety describes Lowen’s assignment taking a dark turn after she discovers disturbing autobiographical material, forcing her to question the difference between fiction and reality.
Josh Hartnett Joins Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway
Alongside Johnson and Hathaway, Verity features Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford.
Jeremy is an important figure in the Crawford family story and becomes connected to Lowen as she attempts to understand the circumstances surrounding Verity.
Hartnett has also spoken about working with Hathaway, describing her as highly professional while emphasizing that she could also have fun on set.
That balance appears to have extended across the principal cast.
Despite the movie’s dark subject matter, the actors reportedly maintained a playful atmosphere between takes.
Verity Director Michael Showalter
The film is directed by Michael Showalter, whose previous work includes The Big Sick, The Lovebirds and The Idea of You.
Showalter’s involvement adds another interesting element to the adaptation because he already had a working relationship with Hathaway before Verity.
The director has also discussed how Johnson and Hathaway contributed creatively to the film during production.
The adaptation’s screenplay has gone through multiple versions, with Nick Antosca credited for the current script after earlier writers worked on the project. Variety reported that Hathaway, Hoover and Showalter are among the producers.
Verity Release Date: When Is the Movie Coming Out?
Verity is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2, 2026, making it one of the notable fall releases.
Dakota Johnson’s involvement is particularly significant because the actress has previously discussed the challenges of adapting bestselling books for the screen.
In a 2025 Variety interview, Johnson said that adaptations can be difficult because readers often have their own mental image of a story and its characters. She expressed hope that audiences would feel inspired to interpret the adaptation in their own way.
Why Fans Are Talking About Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway
The pairing of Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway has generated considerable attention because both actresses bring different screen personas to the project.
Johnson’s Lowen is entering the Crawford family’s world as an outsider, while Hathaway’s Verity is an established author whose life and work become increasingly mysterious.
That contrast gives the two performers a natural dramatic connection.
At the same time, Johnson’s hot-dog-cart anecdote gives fans a completely different perspective on their relationship.
Instead of only discussing the serious themes of Verity, Johnson remembered Hathaway as a colleague who could bring a little fun to an intense filming environment.
Verity Cast: Full Main Cast
The principal cast of Verity includes:
- Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh
- Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford
- Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford
- Ismael Cruz Córdova
- Brady Wagner
The film is directed by Michael Showalter and adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
What Makes Verity Different From a Typical Book Adaptation?
One of the biggest challenges facing any adaptation of a bestselling novel is meeting the expectations created by readers.
Verity already has a large readership, meaning audiences may arrive with their own ideas about the characters, atmosphere and story.
Dakota Johnson has previously acknowledged that book adaptations can be difficult precisely because every reader imagines the source material differently.
For the film, the filmmakers therefore have to create a cinematic version that works independently while still retaining the core mystery of Hoover’s novel.
Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway: From Intense Thriller to Hot Dog Breaks
The contrast between Verity’s dark story and the actresses’ relaxed off-screen relationship is perhaps what makes Johnson’s anecdote particularly memorable.
The movie asks audiences to follow Lowen through an increasingly complicated situation, while behind the scenes Johnson and Hathaway could step away from the intensity and simply laugh, talk and share food.
And apparently, Hathaway was willing to go one step further — by bringing an entire hot dog cart to the set.
Johnson’s story provides a small but entertaining behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the year’s most talked-about literary adaptations.
As Verity approaches its October 2 theatrical release, interest will remain focused on how Johnson and Hathaway translate their characters’ complicated relationship from Hoover’s novel to the big screen.
AEO: Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Verity?
Verity stars Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett in the leading roles.
Who plays Lowen in Verity?
Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired to continue the work of Verity Crawford.
Who plays Verity Crawford?
Anne Hathaway plays the title character, Verity Crawford.
What did Dakota Johnson say about Anne Hathaway?
Dakota Johnson praised Anne Hathaway as a great colleague and recalled that they spent time laughing, talking and eating hot dogs between takes. Johnson specifically remembered Hathaway bringing a hot dog cart to the set.
Who directed Verity?
Verity is directed by Michael Showalter.
Is Verity based on a book?
Yes. The movie is based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller Verity.
When is Verity releasing?
Verity is scheduled for theatrical release on October 2, 2026.
What is Verity about?
The story follows writer Lowen Ashleigh after she is hired to complete the work of bestselling author Verity Crawford. Her assignment becomes increasingly mysterious after she discovers troubling material connected to Verity and her family.
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