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- What we know about the film right now
- Storyline: eerie adoption in a frozen, strange city
- Cast and creative team bringing the novel to screen
- Production details and filming location
- What the original novel brings to the screen
- Expectations for tone, style, and audience
- Key names to watch and what they bring
- How the industry is responding
Apple Original Films has released a first-look image from Martin Scorsese’s new thriller, What Happens at Night, which pairs Leonardo DiCaprio with Jennifer Lawrence and is now filming in the Czech Republic. The project adapts Peter Cameron’s eerie novel and reunites Scorsese with DiCaprio while introducing Lawrence to the director’s world.
What we know about the film right now
The production is underway with no release date set. Scorsese is directing and producing. Screenwriter Patrick Marber adapted the screenplay from Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel. Apple Original Films is behind the project, and Studiocanal is partnering on the production.
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Storyline: eerie adoption in a frozen, strange city
Cameron’s book follows an American couple who travel to a remote, snowy European city to adopt an infant. The wife is gravely ill, and the couple’s mission becomes fraught with obstacles.
The novel places them in the dilapidated Borgarfjaroasysla Grand Imperial Hotel. The hotel’s lobby is haunting and oddly populated. Characters range from a faded songstress to a decadent businessman and an unusual faith healer. The narrative blends dread, mystery, and marital uncertainty.
Cast and creative team bringing the novel to screen
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Lead actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence
- Adapted by: Patrick Marber
- Based on: Peter Cameron’s novel What Happens at Night (2020)
- Supporting cast includes:
- Patricia Clarkson
- Jared Harris
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Welker White
Notable creative links and previous collaborations
Scorsese and DiCaprio have a well-established partnership. Their recent work together includes the acclaimed Killers of the Flower Moon. Jennifer Lawrence has previously worked with Apple Original Films on films such as Causeway and Bread & Roses. She is also attached to star and produce the upcoming murder mystery The Wives.
Production details and filming location
Principal photography is taking place in the Czech Republic. The first promotional image was shared publicly by both Scorsese and DiCaprio on social platforms.
- Production partner: Studiocanal
- Studio: Apple Original Films
- Filming country: Czech Republic
What the original novel brings to the screen
Peter Cameron’s novel is known for its chilly atmosphere and psychological tension. The book’s setting functions almost like a character, pressuring the protagonists and exposing cracks in their relationship.
Key themes include illness, desperation, identity, and the strangeness of foreign bureaucracies. The book’s tone is quietly unsettling rather than action-driven.
Expectations for tone, style, and audience
Given Scorsese’s track record and the novel’s mood, the film is likely to emphasize atmosphere and performance. Viewers can expect an unsettling drama that leans into psychological suspense.
The casting of DiCaprio and Lawrence suggests a focus on intense, character-driven scenes. The supporting ensemble offers potential for richly textured interactions within the hotel’s eerie world.
Key names to watch and what they bring
- Martin Scorsese: A director known for meticulous craft and actor-driven films.
- Leonardo DiCaprio: Frequent Scorsese collaborator with dramatic range.
- Jennifer Lawrence: A versatile star taking on a new collaboration with Scorsese.
- Patrick Marber: Screenwriter adapting the novel’s subtle tension for film.
- Peter Cameron: Author of the source novel, whose atmosphere shapes the story.
How the industry is responding
Early reaction centers on the pedigree of the team and the novel’s unsettling premise. The announcement reinforces Apple Original Films’ strategy of high-profile cinema collaborations.
With Scorsese at the helm and a cast filled with acclaimed actors, the film has drawn attention long before a release date is confirmed.
