Anne Hathaway Returns to the Big Screen in Erotic Thriller 'Verity', Set for October 2 Release

Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway is set to return to cinemas with the erotic thriller Verity, scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2025. The film is one of the most anticipated projects in the latter half of the year, following the success of several novel adaptations that have dominated the global box office throughout 2025.

Based on Colleen Hoover's notoriously dark and controversial novel, Verity is directed by Michael Showalter, known for The Big Sick and the series Search Party. Hathaway stars as Verity Crawford, a renowned author who suffers a severe injury, rendering her unable to write. Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a ghostwriter hired to complete Verity's final novel. Verity's husband, portrayed by Josh Hartnett, offers Lowen to stay at their secluded residence during the writing process. Lowen accepts the offer and begins to delve into the unfinished manuscript—only to uncover dark secrets that change her life.

In an interview with Deadline, Dakota Johnson expressed her enjoyment in playing a character she described as a "bad guy." "I'm essentially the antagonist, I think. It's really fun," she stated. Johnson also serves as a producer and was involved in the project even before realizing it was an adaptation of Hoover's novel. "I didn't know what Verity was before I got the script, and it turns out it's based on a pretty popular Colleen Hoover novel. People really love it," she added.

The combination of an erotic thriller with the mystery of a severely injured writer evokes the atmosphere of Stephen King's Misery. A similar formula proved successful with The Housemaid (2025), which explored a love triangle between a married couple and their housekeeper. Verity has the potential to replicate that achievement, especially with the prominent name of Colleen Hoover, who has sold millions of books worldwide.

Colleen Hoover is no stranger to the adaptation industry. Several of her novels have been brought to the big screen, including It Ends With Us, Regretting You, and Reminders of Him. Most have achieved commercial success, proving that romance and psychological thriller stories remain a magnet for cinema audiences. "It's going to be a big year. We have Reminders of Him on the 13th, then Verity comes out in October. I'm so excited for readers to see it," Hoover told Entertainment Tonight last March.

For Hathaway, Verity marks her second collaboration with Showalter after The Idea of You, also a novel adaptation. Throughout 2025, Hathaway has been enjoying a career resurgence. After The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, and The End of Oak Street, she adds another potentially lucrative project to her list. "I'm excited. It's so much fun. It's very surreal," she told PEOPLE at The Odyssey premiere in London. "But I'm at an age and a moment in my career where I know things like this don't come around often, and they won't last forever. I'm going to ride this wave for as long as I can."

In Indonesia, the phenomenon of popular novel adaptations becoming increasingly sought-after entertainment. Although Verity has not yet been confirmed for a simultaneous release, local distributors typically bring major Hollywood films shortly after their global release. The arrival of Verity could strengthen the trend of novel adaptations in the Indonesian market, while also opening opportunities for local writers to break into the big screen. Furthermore, the success of such films often boosts sales of the source books in online and offline stores, creating a mutually beneficial entertainment ecosystem.

With Hathaway's big name, Hoover's fan base, and a rising genre, Verity has the potential to be one of the most profitable releases of the fall season. The question is, will this film surpass the achievements of The Housemaid and solidify the dominance of novel adaptations at the global box office? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: Indonesian audiences should look forward to October 2.