Martin Scorsese, the master filmmaker behind classics like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Killers of the Flower Moon, is venturing into gothic psychological horror with his upcoming project What Happens at Night. This highly anticipated adaptation of Peter Cameron’s acclaimed 2020 novel brings together two of Hollywood’s biggest stars: Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, in lead roles that promise intense performances amid an atmosphere of creeping dread. Filming began in early 2026 in Prague, with production underway in the historic Czech city to capture the story’s snowy, isolated European setting.

The film follows a troubled American couple who travel to a remote, snowbound town in Europe with the hope of adopting a baby and starting anew. They check into a grand but decaying hotel that feels frozen in time, surrounded by an eerie stillness and peculiar locals. From the moment they arrive, an unsettling aura permeates their stay. Strange occurrences begin unfolding exclusively after dark—whispers in empty corridors, shadowy figures glimpsed in mirrors, fleeting apparitions that vanish when lights are turned on, and a growing sense that the hotel itself harbors secrets tied to its past. As nights deepen, the disturbances escalate from subtle unease to terrifying manifestations, blurring the line between reality and hallucination.

Grief, illness, and paranoia take hold, forcing the couple to question their perceptions and each other. What starts as a hopeful journey for family becomes a slow-burning descent into psychological terror, where every shadow and every creak in the night could signal something sinister. The story explores themes of loss, longing, and the fragility of sanity, drawing comparisons to atmospheric classics like The Shining for its isolated setting and mounting dread, and Twin Peaks for its surreal, dream-like quality where eccentric characters and hidden truths intertwine.

Scorsese, DiCaprio & Lawrence Set 'What Happens At Night' Movie

DiCaprio plays the husband, a man grappling with personal demons and the weight of past failures, whose skepticism gradually crumbles under the hotel’s influence. Lawrence portrays his wife, equally haunted but driven by a desperate need for renewal through adoption, her resilience tested as supernatural elements threaten to unravel their marriage. Their chemistry, honed through previous collaborations and mutual respect, adds emotional depth to the horror, making the couple’s unraveling feel painfully real.

The supporting cast elevates the ensemble with powerhouse talent. Mads Mikkelsen joins as Brother Emmanuel, a mysterious faith healer whose enigmatic presence and cryptic rituals heighten the unease. Patricia Clarkson appears in a key role, bringing her signature intensity to a character that likely ties into the hotel’s dark history. Jared Harris rounds out the notable additions, contributing to the array of odd, unforgettable figures the couple encounters— a chanteuse with haunting performances, a businessman harboring secrets, and others whose motives remain shrouded.

Directed by Scorsese with his trademark meticulous style, the film adapts the novel through a screenplay by Patrick Marber, known for sharp, character-driven work in films like Closer and Notes on a Scandal. Production is handled by Apple Original Films in collaboration with Studiocanal, following Scorsese’s successful partnership with Apple on Killers of the Flower Moon. DiCaprio produces via his Appian Way banner, alongside Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, ensuring a prestige-level approach to the material.

Filming in Prague allows for authentic period grandeur and wintry desolation, with the city’s historic architecture standing in for the cavernous, fading hotel. The location choice enhances the gothic atmosphere—snow-covered streets, dimly lit halls, and vast, echoing spaces that amplify isolation and paranoia. Scorsese’s visual storytelling promises long, tension-building takes, subtle sound design that turns silence into a weapon, and a color palette of muted grays and blues punctuated by flickering candlelight or unnatural shadows.

No official release date has been announced yet, but with production starting in early 2026 and Scorsese’s deliberate post-production process (often spanning months or years for editing and fine-tuning), the film is eyed for a late 2026 or 2027 premiere, likely positioning it as an awards-season contender given the talent involved. Early buzz positions it as a prestige horror entry—less reliant on jump scares and more on psychological unraveling—appealing to audiences who appreciate elevated genre fare.

What Happens at Night represents a bold genre shift for Scorsese, whose career has rarely delved into outright supernatural horror, though his work has often explored moral darkness and human frailty. Paired with DiCaprio’s intense screen presence and Lawrence’s raw emotional power, the project has the potential to deliver a haunting, thought-provoking experience that lingers long after the credits roll. In a quiet European hotel where nothing is as it seems, the nights hold secrets that refuse to stay hidden—and once they emerge, escape may prove impossible.