Anne Hathaway Vanishes in a Puff of Smoke After Final ‘Verity’ Premiere Video

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Few stars have had a year quite like Anne Hathaway’s. After taking a break in 2025, she made a grand return in 2026 with five films spanning various genres, reminiscent of the classic movie-star workload. The sign-off for ‘Verity’ feels like the closing chapter of one of the busiest years in her career.

Her impressive slate kicked off with the A24 drama ‘Mother Mary’ in April, followed by ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ on May 1, which grossed $693.2 million worldwide, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2026. Next, she starred in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ in July, featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, and Tom Holland, and the sci-fi film ‘The End of Oak Street’ with Ewan McGregor in August. Two of these films currently rank among the top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year at the domestic box office.

On October 2, as ‘Verity’ premiered in theaters, Hathaway shared a video of her vanishing in a puff of smoke, just as she had promised. Film Updates posted the clip on X, highlighting her disappearance after her final film premiere of the year. In the video, she expresses her gratitude for the support she received and makes a shout-out to Zendaya, Tom, Rob, and Florence, encouraging them to bring it home.

The gag has an interesting backstory. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hathaway humorously mentioned that after the movie’s release, she would “vanish in a plume of smoke.” She added that she wouldn’t be seen again until necessary, coinciding with her preparations to welcome her third child with husband Adam Shulman.

‘Verity’ marks Hathaway’s fifth and final press tour of 2026, following ‘Mother Mary,’ ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ ‘The Odyssey,’ and ‘The End of Oak Street.’ She traveled the world and graced numerous red carpets while pregnant, with her last appearance at the New York premiere at AMC Lincoln Square on September 29.

Her pregnancy even influenced her promotional plans. Hathaway shared on the ‘Talk of the Townsends’ podcast that she had initially wanted to participate in the ‘Hot Ones’ challenge, as the online series features in the movie. However, her doctor advised against it due to potential risks to her pregnancy, leaving her hopeful for another opportunity next year.

On October 2, she also joined Gayle King on ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss the film, reflecting on how she has become more relaxed about fame. This was her final interview before her break.

The film is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, directed by Michael Showalter from a script by Nick Antosca. Hathaway portrays Verity Crawford, a bestselling author who has been unable to write since a mysterious accident left her unable to walk or talk. Dakota Johnson stars as struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, who is hired by Verity’s husband Jeremy, played by Josh Hartnett, to complete the books in her series.

While working in the Crawford home, Lowen uncovers a disturbing manuscript that raises unsettling questions about Verity and her family. Hathaway also took on the role of producer for the film, which is rated R.

Critics have had mixed reactions. The film holds a Metascore of 45 based on 31 reviews. The A.V. Club noted that the stars are compelling enough to keep it from flatlining, though it doesn’t quite deliver the genre experience it should, while The Hollywood Reporter was more critical, labeling it a dumb mystery.

Screenshot 2026 10 02 at 09 04 07 Verity Rotten Tomatoes

Don’t expect a lengthy retreat. Hathaway is scheduled to return in March 2027 to film ‘Days of Thunder 2’ alongside Tom Cruise. She is also attached to the adaptation of ‘Yesteryear’ and is working on ‘The Princess Diaries 3,’ among other exciting projects.

For now, the actress has certainly earned her rest. After delivering five films and preparing for her third child in a single year, Hathaway’s smoky exit feels like the perfect punctuation mark.

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