‘Verity’ Director Michael Showalter Reacts to Leaked Dakota Johnson Set Photos, Fans’ ‘Wild’ Response

Director Michael Showalter has addressed the viral set photos from Verity, offering his first public reaction to the images that sent fans into a frenzy earlier this year. Speaking to PEOPLE at the New York premiere of his holiday film Oh. What. Fun. on Dec. 2, Showalter described the March leak—featuring a blood-splattered Dakota Johnson alongside Josh Hartnett—as a moment that took on a life of its own online.

“I mean, it was sort of wild to see that—how viral that went,” Showalter said, noting how quickly the images spread across social media platforms.

According to the director, the reaction made sense given the elements involved. “People love Colleen Hoover, people love Dakota, and people love blood,” he said. “The combination of those three things was a perfect storm.”

A First Look That Fans Didn’t Expect

The leaked photos, taken during filming in New York City, appeared to depict a dramatic scene involving a cyclist accident. Johnson, who plays struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, was seen covered in blood, while Hartnett—portraying Jeremy Crawford—appeared to arrive at the scene moments later.

Fans of Hoover’s bestselling novel quickly dissected the images, debating which moment from the book was being adapted and sharing theories about how closely the film would follow the source material. Despite the unintended reveal, Showalter said his excitement for the project remains undiminished. “I’m so excited for the movie,” he added.

Star-Studded Adaptation

Verity also stars Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford, a successful but mysterious author whose unfinished book series sets the story in motion. The film follows Lowen as she lands a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to complete Verity’s work, only to uncover disturbing secrets along the way. Hathaway was confirmed as part of the cast in late 2024 and is also serving as a producer on the project alongside Showalter. The pair previously collaborated on The Idea of You, another female-led story.

A Director Drawn to Female-Led Stories

Asked about the recurring focus on women protagonists in his recent projects, Showalter said the pattern was not intentional. However, he acknowledged a personal connection to these narratives.

“I somehow connect to their stories,” he said. “I feel sympathy for them, I feel love for them, and I want to tell their story.”

Release Plans

Produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Verity is scheduled to release in theaters on May 15, 2026. Meanwhile, Oh. What. Fun. is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. As anticipation builds, the leaked photos—once a surprise—have only heightened interest in what promises to be one of the most closely watched book-to-screen adaptations of the year.