Taylor Swift has premiered the star-studded new video for ‘Patient Zero’, featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
- READ MORE: Taylor Swift – ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ review: magical when the songwriter just lets herself be
The clip received its world premiere during last night’s ceremony (Sunday September 27), shortly after Johnson presented Swift with the inaugural Artist Director Honors award.
It sees Johnson play the new partner of Farrell’s character, while Swift initially appears to be his former lover. It is ultimately revealed that Swift’s character is dead, having been murdered by Farrell, and is appearing as a ghost in an attempt to warn Johnson away from the same fate.
Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki shot the video, with Swift directing. The singer had previously confirmed the video and its cast ahead of the VMAs.
Following its premiere, Swift explained that she had wanted to draw on “gothic ghost stories, true crime [and] psychological thrillers”, with the house at the centre of the video serving as “a metaphor for the coldness of a relationship that’s faded and atrophied”.
She also thanked Farrell for taking on the villainous role, writing: “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.”
The video also includes a surprise appearance from Cara Delevingne.
Watch ‘Patient Zero’ below:
The Patient Zero video is finally out in the world! Getting to work with Emmanuel Lubezki was something out of a dream sequence, and I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action. I want to thank Dakota and Colin for trusting me with their time, taste, and talent… pic.twitter.com/vkLCO167Ea
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) September 28, 2026
Taylor Swift – Patient Zero (Official Music Video) pic.twitter.com/ZXTJjzWfJB
— lex (@celebsnapzx) September 28, 2026
‘Patient Zero’ was released onto streaming on Friday alongside three further new songs – ‘Cleveland!’, ‘Pink Clouding’ and ‘Babylon’ – as part of ‘The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore’.
Elsewhere at last night’s VMAs, Swift made history by becoming the ceremony’s most-awarded artist of all time.
She arrived at the event tied with Beyoncé on 30 career VMAs, before moving ahead when she received the Artist Director Honors award. Swift later won Best Direction and Video Of The Year for ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’, taking her career tally to 33.
Accepting the latest award, Swift dedicated it to the late Dolly Parton, who died last month aged 80.
“I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person, without whom this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton,” she said.
Swift praised the country icon’s storytelling, saying that listening to her songs was “like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life every single time you hear what she has written”.
She continued: “Everything that happened in her life and her career, she channelled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans. I am lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them.”
“I think that we were all very, very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time.”
Swift had previously joined Paul McCartney, Eminem, Elton John and others in paying tribute following Parton’s death.
In NME’s three-star review of ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’, Kristen S. Hé wrote: “To seek escapism is not a sin, but the best pop music makes the personal feel like life or death.”
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