The original plan was total chaos
If you left the theater feeling confused by the ending of Verity, you’re not alone—and apparently, you were supposed to be even more shook. Director Michael Showalter revealed that the current version, where Lowen (Dakota Johnson) and Jeremy (Josh Hartnett) drive off into the sunset with the truth remaining a total mystery, was actually the result of some heavy-duty focus group feedback.
In the original vision for the film, things were giving major supervillain energy. Showalter explained that in a cut that never made the final edit, Lowen was revealed to be a total mastermind. In that version, she would have put on a pair of sunglasses while driving away, fully embracing a "dark phoenix" persona. To top it off, the final shot would have cut back to Verity (Anne Hathaway) sinking to the bottom of the lake, only for her eyes to pop open. It’s giving classic horror camp, but it didn't land with test audiences.
Why the change?
Showalter noted that the feedback was surprisingly consistent: viewers didn't want Lowen to be a cold-blooded villain. Instead, they wanted her to feel the weight of what happened. He realized that the audience saw themselves in Lowen, and they weren't ready for her to just brush off the trauma with a pair of shades and a wave. They wanted her to be spiraling in uncertainty—and honestly, that’s valid.
Even author Colleen Hoover, who consulted on the project, was totally down for the pivot. She mentioned she’s super happy with the final product, even after the team ditched some of the book's darker elements, like the subplot involving the children.
Why it matters
This is a classic case of the "audience is always right" rule in Hollywood. Sometimes a director’s "cool" vision just doesn't hit, and the final decision to leave the audience in a state of 'what the hell just happened' ended up being the move that made the cut.
