On Wednesday, in the heart of New York City, Dakota Johnson found herself drenched in artificial gore while lensing her latest flick, "Verity." As she strolled across the set, an assistant burst forth with a torrent of crimson liquid from a special effects contraption, meticulously designed to mimic the spray of blood. Standing beside her, her co-star Josh Hartnett, shared in the macabre scene.
Johnson, now 35, wore an ensemble comprising black boots, brown trousers, and a camel coat, all of which were utterly marred by the bloodstains. Her visage, tresses, and even her Beats by Dr. Dre headphones were soaked in the oozing, crimson fluid, transforming her appearance into one akin to someone who had just borne witness to a harrowing gunshot. Passersby, visible in the background, bore expressions of shock at the sight.
Post this grim spectacle, Johnson was seen engaging in animated conversation with Hartnett, 46, donned in a sleek gray suit and tie. Last December, Deadline reported the signing of Johnson and Hartnett alongside Anne Hathaway for the film, adapted from Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel of the same name.
Johnson portrays Lowen Ashleigh, a cash-strapped writer who takes up a ghostwriting gig to complete the unfinished works of thriller maven Verity Crawford, essayed by Hathaway. Hartnett slipped into the shoes of Jeremy, Verity's husband, who hires Lowen after his wife is incapacitated by a mysterious accident, rendering her unable to pen her remaining books.
At the helm of this Amazon MGM Studios production is Michael Showalter, who also co-produces alongside Hathaway and Hoover. This isn't the first time Hoover's literature has been translated to the silver screen. Last year, the cinematic adaptation of her 2016 novel "It Ends With Us" premiered, grossing over $346 million worldwide.
Behind the scenes, drama unfolded as news emerged of a contentious feud between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which culminated in several lawsuits riddled with allegations of sexual assault and extortion. Hoover's works, "Regretting You" and "Reminders of Him," have also caught the eye of filmmakers, poised for their cinematic adaptations.
