Dakota Johnson: 'Patient Zero' music video with Taylor Swift, Colin Farrell was 'most fun thing'

On the red carpet for her upcoming Verity, Dakota Johnson couldn’t hide how much fun she had shooting Taylor Swift’s new music video Patient Zero—and doing it with a close friend. Johnson said the collaboration clicked immediately because of how long they’ve known each other and how naturally they work together.

“Working with your friends is like the most fun thing on the planet because we’ve known each other for so long, we respect each other’s creative minds,” Johnson said.

She doubled down on that vibe on Ambar Lee and Leah Briars’ Fangirl Nation podcast, adding that this was one of those rare times when teaming up with a pal felt effortless.

“Normally I would say ‘Don’t work with your friends,’ but we work really well together. It was so fun. So fun. It was the best. We just had the best time,” she said on the podcast.

Who’s involved

• Taylor Swift — director and star of Patient Zero
• Dakota Johnson — co-star
• Colin Farrell — co-star
• Emmanuel Lubezki — cinematographer; the three-time Oscar winner behind Gravity, Birdman and The Revenant

Swift offered a first look on September 24 with a 13-second teaser that flashes moody, puzzle-piece images: Swift and Johnson by a bathroom sink, submerged in water, and standing at what appears to be a gravesite. Colin Farrell also turns up in the quick-cut footage, but the actual storyline remains tightly under wraps.

Release plan

• September 25 — Patient Zero is set to release as part of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore
• September 27 — the full music video makes its world premiere during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, where Swift will also receive the first-ever Artist-Director Award