Taylor Swift takes fans behind the scenes of her Patient Zero music video in new footage shared exclusively on Apple Music. On Saturday, the 36-year-old pop star released a video bundle, including the song, original music video and an eight-minute expanded video. Within the footage, it was revealed what music video co-stars Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell were actually quarreling over during their intense arguing scenes. Stripped of the music, the 37-year-old actress and 50-year-old actor are heard shouting over whether Brendan Fraser starred in Tarzan or George of the Jungle.
‘I’m telling you, Brendan Fraser was Tarzan!’ Johnson declares before Farrell erupts, ‘George of the Jungle!’ Swift laughed over the ridiculousness of the spat, calling it ‘the dumbest fight ever.’ The debate goes down at a large dining table, with the actors standing at either end as they engage in a screaming match. Fans get to see Swift wear her director hat, as she takes the reins behind the camera alongside cinematographer Emmanuel ‘Chivo’ Lubezki. ‘I’ve been wanting to make this video my entire life,’ she says at the beginning of the snippet. Patient Zero premiered at the MTV Video Music Awards last Sunday.
Swift jokes about getting the video on TV
While working on the video months ahead of the awards show, Swift reflected: ‘Walking through here and seeing the way that Chivo has lit this and the way the sets are and how brilliantly Ethan [Tobman] has done this production design, I’m kind of rethinking the release of the video.’ She cheekily added: ‘Like, I need to figure out a way to get this on TV or something.’ The singer-songwriter joked in the behind-the-scenes March 2025 recording: ‘I’m like, Ethan, google: when are the VMAs?’ The song, released on the deluxe edition of her The Life of a Showgirl album, is about a woman who escapes a toxic relationship, then helps guide her ex’s current girlfriend, who is also suffering.
Swift warns Johnson of impending doom
In the Patient Zero clip, Johnson and Farrell play a seemingly perfect couple, until the toxic nature of the romance comes to light. Swift appears as a ghost who quietly tries to warn Johnson of imminent doom. She won the inaugural Artist Director Honors award at Sunday’s awards ceremony. In a heartfelt Instagram caption shared after the video premiere, the musician wrote: ‘I want to thank @dakotajohnson and Colin for trusting me with their time, taste, and talent (Giggling with your friend because you’re twinning for an entire shoot was a new and truly delightful experience).
She thanks MTV for the premiere
‘And Colin’s turn as a villain is even more impressive when you get to be around him. He’s an absolute light and as kind as they come.’ She added elsewhere in the note, ‘With the Patient Zero video, I got to explore the cinematic and literary genres I love so much. ‘I wanted to incorporate elements of gothic ghost stories, true crime, psychological thrillers all in a setting I hadn’t really shot in much.’ The star thanked MTV in the last part of the caption, writing: ‘Thank you to the @vmas for giving us a World Premiere at the place where celebrating music videos became a thing. And so much love for you guys, always.’
