Dakota Johnson Spotted Drenched In Blood On Set Of ‘Verity’

Dakota Johnson is diving headfirst into her chilling new role in "Verity," the highly anticipated adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.

On Wednesday, March 12, Dakota Johnson was photographed on set in New York City, sporting fake blood splattered across her face and clothes while filming an intense scene with co-star Josh Hartnett.

Johnson appeared to be shooting a moment straight from the book involving a car accident with a cyclist. Hartnett, who plays Jeremy Crawford, was seen rushing into the scene as he and Johnson’s character, Lowen Ashleigh, crossed the street together after the incident.

The upcoming psychological thriller also stars Anne Hathaway, who was previously confirmed as both a cast member and producer on the project. She reunites with director Michael Showalter, following their collaboration on 2024’s "The Idea of You."

In February, Hathaway and Hartnett were spotted filming together in New York City, running hand in hand through the streets in semi-formal attire, further fueling excitement around the adaptation.

Based on Hoover’s 2018 novel, "Verity" follows struggling writer Lowen (Johnson), who receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to complete a successful book series for Verity Crawford (Hathaway), a bestselling author left unable to write after a mysterious accident. But upon arriving at the lavish Crawford estate, Lowen stumbles upon a disturbing unfinished manuscript, uncovering dark secrets about the family’s past.

As she grows closer to Jeremy and his young son Crew, Lowen is forced to question whether Verity’s writings are pure fiction or a terrifying confession.

Hoover herself has expressed her enthusiasm for the project, sharing her excitement over Johnson and Hartnett’s casting in a December 2024 Instagram post. “Excited is an understatement,” she wrote at the time.

"Verity" marks the second big-screen adaptation of a Hoover novel, following the massive success of "It Ends With Us," which starred Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni and dominated the box office in August 2024, and has been the cause of an ongoing legal battle between the two lead actors.

The ongoing legal battle between "It Ends With Us" co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has escalated, with new filings revealing the deep emotional and professional toll the dispute has taken on both parties.

Rumors of behind-the-scenes friction first emerged in the summer of 2024, when the two actors noticeably avoided joint promotional appearances for their highly anticipated book-to-film adaptation. However, tensions reached a boiling point in December 2024, when Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of attempting to “destroy” her reputation.

Shortly after, the actress formally sued Baldoni in New York federal court, seeking damages for lost wages and emotional distress. The "Jane the Virgin" alum has fiercely denied the accusations, responding with a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, which first reported on Lively’s claims.

Additionally, Baldoni has launched a separate $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging extortion.

In an effort to clear his name, Baldoni publicly released a series of private text messages between himself and Lively. Among the exchanges, one message allegedly sent by Lively read:

“If you knew me (in person) longer you’d have a sense of how flirty and yummy the ball busting will play. It’s my love language. Spicy and playfully bold, never with teeth…..”

Lively has since condemned media portrayals of the lawsuit, recently calling a Hollywood Reporter cover story on the conflict “outrageously insulting as it plays into every sexist trope about women who dare file a workplace complaint.”

As the legal dispute drags on, Lively has filed an additional complaint reinforcing her claims against Baldoni and shedding light on the impact the situation has had on her personal life.

According to Page Six, the "Gossip Girl" star alleges that the legal turmoil has significantly affected her family, particularly her four children, James, 10, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, 2, whom she claims have been “emotionally uprooted in ways that have substantially impacted their well-being.”

The filing also asserts that Reynolds has been struggling “mentally, physically, and professionally” due to the ongoing legal proceedings and its effects on their family.