'Verity' director reacts to fans' reaction on Dakota Johnson set photos

The director of the upcoming film Verity has opened up about leaked photos from the set featuring the lead actress Dakota Johnson.

Michael Showalter talked to People Magazine about the leaked photos at the premiere of holiday movie Oh. What. Fun. in New York City.

Referring to fans' reaction, Showalter said, "I mean, it was sort of wild to see that — how viral that went."

He went on to add, "But you know, people love Colleen Hoover and people love Dakota and people love blood," noting, "and so the combination of those three things, I think, were a perfect storm."

This comes as in March shots from the film featuring Josh Hartnett and the blood-splattered Dakota Johnson went viral.

"I'm so excited for the movie," Showalter said of the upcoming film, which is based on Colleen Hoover's novel Verity.

As the stories of Michael Showalter's latest projects like Verity and Oh. What. Fun. center around mother, he was asked if it was a deliberate move.

However, Showalter told the outlet, "It's not intentional, but I do somehow tend to gravitate towards stories with female protagonists. I'm not sure exactly why that is."

"I'm not gonna question it, but I just… I somehow connect to their stories, myself, even though I'm not a woman, and so it's just kind of happened that way," he added.

The director went on to note, "There's no, like, big plan there but I definitely do really relate to these characters, and I feel sympathy for them and I feel love for them and I want to tell their story."

Verity, starring Dakota Johnson and Anna Hathaway is set to release in May 2026.