[New Films] Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity’ Opens Oct. 22; Suzu Hirose’s Youth Romance ‘You, Like a Star’ Arrives Oct. 28 — Two Bestselling Adaptations Return to the Big Screen

A bold adaptation of a global phenomenon: psychological thriller 'Verity'

Two mega-hit bestsellers that captivated readers around the world are making the leap to the big screen. They are 'Verity,' based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, which topped The New York Times bestseller list, and 'You, Like a Star,' adapted from Yu Nagira’s novel, winner of the Japan Booksellers’ Award. With their source material’s compelling storytelling and powerhouse performances from global stars, both films promise to deliver.

Opening Oct. 22, 'Verity' is a psychological thriller about an unknown writer, 'Lowen' (played by 'Dakota Johnson'), who is hired to finish the manuscript of bestselling author 'Verity' (played by 'Anne Hathaway'), who can no longer walk or speak after an accident. Chilling suspense unfolds when Lowen stumbles upon a hidden autobiography manuscript containing the truth in Verity’s study.

As Lowen reads on, her suspicions about Verity’s true nature deepen. At the same time, she becomes irresistibly drawn to Verity’s husband, 'Jeremy' (played by 'Josh Hartnett'), leaving her profoundly conflicted. The film weaves together the present, as Lowen investigates the truth, and the clandestine past revealed in the manuscript, building suffocating tension.

'Anne Hathaway' is especially commanding, masterfully conveying the gulf between Verity’s once-glittering fame and her present-day loss of everything. 'Dakota Johnson' delicately portrays a woman unraveling as she becomes consumed by forbidden secrets, while 'Josh Hartnett' deepens the drama as a husband who conceals his true feelings behind a gentle demeanor. Director Michael Showalter said he focused on visually capturing the source novel’s chilling sensibility and expressed confidence in the adaptation. 116 minutes. Rated 15 and up.

A bittersweet romance tracing 15 years: 'You, Like a Star'

Set to open Oct. 28, 'You, Like a Star' is a standout film about the 15-year love story and missed connections between a man and a woman who once filled each other’s voids, against the backdrop of a quiet island village in Japan. Seventeen-year-old classmates 'Kai' (played by 'Ryusei Yokohama') and 'Akimi' (played by 'Suzu Hirose') become each other’s only refuge amid troubled home lives, but eventually go their separate ways in the face of reality.

Kai’s journey to Tokyo to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist, and Akimi’s decision to remain on the island, bound by family obligations, make the story more than a simple romance, shedding light on life’s weighty choices. The film was previously invited to the Window on Asian Cinema section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, earning critical acclaim well ahead of its release. It has been praised for faithfully bringing the source novel’s emotional depth to the screen.

Director Michihito Fujii once again demonstrates the distinctive, lyrical and visually sensitive style he brought to his earlier films 'The Journalist' and 'The Last 10 Years.' Japan’s leading youth icons 'Ryusei Yokohama' and 'Suzu Hirose', reuniting for their third on-screen collaboration, deliver perfect chemistry, bringing the story to life with just a glance. The two stars and director Fujii will visit Korea on the 19th to meet fans in person at a stage greeting and GV (talk with the audience) at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. 134 minutes. Rated 15 and up.