Actor Josh Hartnett stars as Jeremy Crawford in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel Verity, which hit screens as a psychological thriller exploring deep moral ambiguity. In interviews with public radio outlets including WKU Public Radio, Hartnett reflected on both his return to prominent studio projects and the reasons he stepped away from Hollywood fame at the height of his career in the early 2000s.
Josh Hartnett Discusses Character Ambiguity in Verity Adaptation
In Verity, Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, the husband of a catatonic bestselling author named Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway. After a car accident leaves Verity unable to finish her book series, Jeremy hires a young writer, Lowen Ashleigh—played by Dakota Johnson—to organize his wife’s office notes at their home in Vermont.
He noted that author Colleen Hoover intended the book to act as a “Rorschach drawing” where audiences project their own interpretations onto the characters. According to Hartnett, every character falls under suspicion, and the film is designed to spark post-screening debates among viewers regarding who bears ultimate responsibility for the story’s dark twists.
Weighing Morality and Blame Among the Film’s Lead Roles
Addressing debates over his character’s morality, Hartnett argued that viewers should not isolate Jeremy as the sole antagonist of the story. He acknowledged that Jeremy commits wrongful acts throughout the narrative, but maintained that other characters actively participate in wrongdoing as well. From a specific perspective supported by the film’s script, Hartnett suggested that Jeremy ultimately avoids committing the most severe actions depicted in the plot.
The film surrounds these complex dynamics with high-stakes tension between Lowen, Jeremy, and the incapacitated Verity. Hartnett added that playing a complicated romantic lead within such a morally grey ensemble offered a significant professional challenge, marking a return to material he had not tackled in years.
Stepping Away From LA After Early 2000s Stardom
Before taking on complex ensemble thrillers, Hartnett experienced a massive wave of global fame during the late 1990s and early 2000s with roles in The Virgin Suicides, The Faculty, Pearl Harbor, and Black Hawk Down. Following the release of those projects, he turned down the role of Superman twice and relocated to Minnesota.
Hartnett explained that he never intended to become a famous actor when he booked his first film at age 18. After wrapping roughly ten films in three and a half years, he found himself overwhelmed by tabloid attention and paparazzi. Moving away allowed him to regain control of his life and view the film industry from an external perspective, ultimately renewing his appreciation for independent cinema and directors focused on artistic exploration rather than box-office hits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Josh Hartnett and Verity
Where does the movie Verity take place?
Within the plot of the film, Jeremy Crawford and his family live in a house in Vermont, where the character Lowen Ashleigh stays to sort through years of notes and outlines.
Which films prompted Hartnett to take a break from mainstream Hollywood?
Hartnett pointed to the intense back-to-back releases of Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down as the period when he decided to step away from Los Angeles and return home to Minnesota.
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