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Taylor Swift Unveils Teaser for 'Patient Zero' Video Featuring Farrell and Johnson
Confirmed
In Short: Taylor Swift released a 13-second teaser for her new music video 'Patient Zero,' featuring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, ahead of its premiere at the 2026 MTV VMAs.
Taylor Swift released a 13-second teaser for her new music video 'Patient Zero' on Thursday, September 24, during CBS Mornings and on her Instagram feed.
The teaser, directed by Swift herself, features cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, known for films like 'The Revenant' and 'Birdman.' It will premiere during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 27.
The video, which is set to feature Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson, includes scenes of Swift in a dimly lit bathroom, two women diving into a pool, and a glimpse of a gravesite.
Swift also announced that she will drop an expanded version of her album 'The Life of a Showgirl' on Friday, September 25, titled 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.' This new release will include four bonus tracks, one of which is 'Patient Zero.
The teaser clip includes a brief glimpse of Swift's engagement ring and features a haunting, Irish folk-tinged instrumental soundtrack.
Swift also shared a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit sketch during the Emmy Awards, hinting at Johnson's involvement in the video with the clue 'North or South,' which could refer to North and South Dakota.
The VMAs will air on CBS and MTV, with Swift set to accept the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.
Swift's Instagram post revealed that the video will premiere at the VMAs, where she is also nominated for 13 awards.
The teaser has left fans with several mysterious images to decode, including scenes of water, a cemetery, and Swift crying.
What's confirmed
- According to CBS Mornings, the video’s cinematographer was Emmanuel Lubezki, best known for The Revenant and Birdman The video, directed by Swift, will premiere during the 2026 MTV VMAs on Sunday (Sept. 27), where the singer will be bestowed with the first-ever Artist Director Honors at the event where she is also nominated for 13 awards.
- Explore Colin Farrell Dakota Johnson Taylor Swift See latest videos, charts and news The video preview opens with a mirror image of Swift — in a white tank and gray shorts — turning on the water faucet in a dimly lit, industrial-looking bathroom before quickly cutting to footage of two women diving into a pool trailed by a swarm of bubbles.
- Yesterday, Swift announced that the expanded version of last year’s The Life of a Showgirl album will be released Friday, September 25, with four previously unreleased songs including the first single “Patient Zero.” (The other new songs are “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”) Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the VMAs air Sunday, September 27 (7:30-9:30 p.m.
What's still developing
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- With less than one sleep left before Taylor Swift unveils her new single, “ Patient Zero,” Swifties got a 13-second preview of the dramatic video for the song on Thursday morning (Sept.
- The brief clip that spawned more questions than answers premiered on CBS Mornings and Swift’s Instagram feed, revealing a pair of Hollywood stars at its center.
- There is a final, brief glimpse of a stricken-looking Swift slowly turning her head, with the singer’s 10-carat engagement ring on full display.
- While no lyrics are heard in the preview, it is soundtracked by a lilting, Irish folk music-tinged instrumental.
- The final images include Farrell emerging from a luxury sedan at night and Johnson looking haunted at what appears to be a party and then all three, dressed in all black, in a lounge.
- The final clue, “North or South,” may have been a tip-off to Johnson, whose first name can be paired with the directional clues to unveil North and South Dakota.
- More Evidence Tay’s Dropping Music on November 10 Taylor Points to Her Ring as Travis Scores TD We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
- CBS Mornings unveiled a brief (13 second) sneak peek at the video today just before Swift posted the teaser on her social accounts.
- “I’ve been impatiently waiting to tell you that my brand new single “Patient Zero” will be out on September 25 (!!!!!!!!!!!!)” she wrote.
- Farrell, a surprise addition to Swift’s inner circle, steps out of a car as the clip cuts to Johnson.
- It shows Swift washing her hands, two bodies falling into water, a black rose, two women standing near a gravesite and Swift with tears on her face.