PRAGUE — The legendary Martin Scorsese is preparing to go behind the camera once again. His latest project, the psychological thriller What Happens at Night, is officially heading into production with Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence set to star.
Reports from local outlets, including Forbes Czech Republic, indicate that filming is slated to begin in February 2026. The production will utilize the wintry landscapes and historic architecture of the Czech Republic to bring the novel’s eerie, atmospheric setting to life.
The Story: A Dream-Like Nightmare
Based on the 2020 novel by Peter Cameron, the film follows an American couple (DiCaprio and Lawrence) who travel to a remote, snow-covered European town to adopt a baby. Their journey takes a surreal turn when they check into the Borgarfjaroasysla Grand Imperial Hotel—a vast, nearly empty establishment populated by a cast of eccentric and unsettling characters.
The screenplay has been penned by Patrick Marber (Closer, Notes on a Scandal), and the film is being produced for Apple Original Films.
A Powerhouse Cast and Crew
This project marks the seventh feature film collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, a partnership that has spanned over two decades. However, it will be the first time Scorsese directs Lawrence, though the two previously collaborated when he produced her upcoming film Die, My Love.
Key production details include:
Cinematography: Four-time Oscar nominee Rodrigo Prieto (Killers of the Flower Moon) returns as Scorsese’s Director of Photography.
New Casting: Mads Mikkelsen has reportedly joined the cast in a supporting role, rumored to be playing a “debauched businessman” the couple encounters at the hotel.
Atmosphere: DiCaprio recently revealed that Scorsese has cited Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Japanese ghost films as primary tonal references for the project.
“He’s going to give you a lot of film references… they usually come in the form of a DVD. If you don’t have a DVD player, get one.”
— Leonardo DiCaprio to Jennifer Lawrence on working with Scorsese (Variety Actors on Actors)
What’s Next?
As the production team finalizes location scouting in Prague, more casting announcements are expected. While a release date has not been set, the complexity of Scorsese’s post-production process suggests a potential debut at the 2027 Cannes Film Festival.
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