Sartaj Singh
Michael Showalter is all set to helm a highly anticipated Colleen Hoover adaptation! The Cinemaholic can reveal that the filmmaker will direct the thriller film ‘Verity’ for Amazon MGM Studios. Principal photography for the project will start in New York in February 2025 and conclude in April 2025. Nick Antosca penned the current draft of the screenplay based on Hoover’s 2018 novel of the same name. Anne Hathaway headlines the cast.
The plot revolves around Lowen Ashleigh, who is saved from the cusp of financial ruin by a golden opportunity when Jeremy Crawford, the husband of the best-selling writer Verity Crawford, reaches out to her. He reveals to the protagonist that his wife has been paralyzed after an accident and needs help to complete her remaining books in a successful series. As Lowen arrives at the Crawford estate, she is made comfortable by the caring Jeremy and begins to excavate years’ worth of the author’s notes and outlines.
As the narrative progresses, Lowen’s research unearths information that provides a window into Verity’s disturbed mind, revealing haunting details about the death of her daughter, which even her devoted husband isn’t aware of. She initially decides to keep the contentious knowledge to herself, but as she falls in love with Jeremy, she is tempted to shatter his rose-tinted image of Verity. The revelation would ensure he wouldn’t be able to love the helpless author any longer but could break the small family apart in a time of vulnerability.
Showalter is known for helming popular romantic comedies like ‘The Big Sick,’ starring Kumail Nanjiani. He previously worked with Hathaway in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Idea of You,’ which follows a single mother in her 40s who is swept off her feet by a sensational young pop star. He gained recognition as a filmmaker by co-creating the ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ franchise with David Wain.
Showalter also wrote, directed, and led the cast of ‘The Baxter,’ a satirical romantic comedy about a man left at the altar in another couple’s wild romantic story. His latest credits include Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh,’ ‘Spoiler Alert,’ and Showtime’s ‘I Love That for You.’ He is also part of Paramount+’s true crime series ‘Happy Face,’ which explores the true story of Melissa Moore discovering that her father is the Happy Face Killer.
Nick Antosca is a seasoned screenwriter and producer known for creating or co-creating shows like Netflix’s ‘Brand New Cherry Flavor,’ Hulu’s ‘The Act,’ Peacock’s ‘A Friend of the Family,’ and Hulu’s ‘Candy.’ He is also recognized for developing the horror anthology Syfy series ‘Channel Zero’ and serving as a writer for ABC’s ‘Last Resort.’
The film is one of the many Colleen Hoover adaptations, including ‘Regretting You’ and ‘Reminders of Him,’ that are in the works. Their predecessor, ‘It Ends with Us’ starring Blake Lively, grossed nearly $350 million against a budget of $25 million at the worldwide box office.
New York is an iconic setting for a host of mystery thriller films and shows, with the more secluded landscapes of Upstate New York and the Hudson Valley region providing ideal locations for a film like ‘Verity.’ Some other similar projects that have set up shop in the state include Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ ‘Eyes Wide Shut,’ ‘Babygirl,’ and ‘Gone Girl.’
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