Josh Hartnett has revealed that his 12-year-old goddaughter was not convinced he was the right actor to play Jeremy in the upcoming psychological thriller Verity. The actor said she was a fan of Colleen Hoover’s novel but could not imagine him in the role because she thought he was “like a thousand years old.”Hartnett shared the amusing story while promoting Verity, which stars Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford and Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh. The film is directed by Michael Showalter and is based on Hoover’s bestselling novel.Key HighlightsJosh Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford in VerityHis 12-year-old goddaughter was not convinced by his castingShe reportedly imagined a much younger actor such as Timothée ChalametHartnett said Jeremy was written as being in his 40sVerity stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh HartnettThe movie is scheduled to release in the US and Canada on October 2, 2026Josh Hartnett’s Goddaughter Had a Different Casting ChoiceDuring an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hartnett discussed his goddaughter’s reaction to his Verity role.He explained that she had read and loved Hoover’s novel, although he noted that the book is not really intended for a 12-year-old audience. When she learned that Hartnett would play Jeremy, she reportedly questioned the decision.“She absolutely could not see me in that role,” Hartnett said, recalling that she told him he was “like a thousand years old.” She reportedly wanted someone much younger, with Hartnett mentioning Timothée Chalamet as an example.Hartnett, however, pointed out that Jeremy is written as a man in his 40s, making the role suitable for his age.Josh Hartnett Plays Jeremy in VerityIn Verity, Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway.The story follows Lowen Ashleigh, played by Dakota Johnson, a struggling writer who is asked by Jeremy to complete Verity’s successful book series after an accident leaves the author unable to continue writing.While working at the Crawford family home, Lowen discovers an unfinished manuscript containing disturbing revelations about Verity’s past. The discovery raises questions about what really happened and who can be trusted.The film is adapted from Colleen Hoover’s 2018 novel, which became widely popular among readers and later gained a major social-media following.Verity Cast and Release DateVerity brings together Josh Hartnett, Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson in the central roles. Michael Showalter directs the movie, while Nick Antosca wrote the screenplay based on Hoover’s novel.Hartnett has also spoken about how unusual it is for him to take on a major film project, given his focus on family life. He and his wife, actress Tamsin Egerton, have four children and live in Hampshire, England.The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres in the United States and Canada on October 2, 2026. With the adaptation attracting attention from Hoover’s large fanbase, the casting of Hartnett, Hathaway and Johnson has become one of the major talking points ahead of its release.
