In an exclusive scoop with The Deadline, the legendary director Martin Scorsese has confirmed that he is officially set to direct his next feature, which is going to be an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s acclaimed ghost story novel ‘What Happens at Night‘. Leading the film are none other than the ‘One Battle After Another’ protagonist Leonardo DiCaprio and ‘The Hunger Games‘ Girl on Fire, Jennifer Lawrence, who are reuniting for the first time since their comet hitting the earth apocalyptic comedy hit from Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up‘. The duo’s return to the screen together under Scorsese’s direction promises a cinematic event rich with both tension and star-powered chemistry.
As per the reports, Apple Original Films is currently in negotiations to finance and produce alongside Studiocanal, which has developed the screenplay with Patrick Marber, the Oscar-nominated playwright behind Notes on a Scandal. Studiocanal acquired the rights to Cameron’s novel in 2023, and Scorsese, initially attached as a producer, has now committed to directing and bringing his visionary style to the story’s haunting, in a frozen European setting.
Martin Scorsese Guides Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence Through a Tense, Psychological Thriller
The narrative follows a married American couple who travel to a remote, snow-bound European town to adopt a child. They check into the cavernous Borgarfjaroasysla Grand Imperial Hotel, which is a fading architectural marvel filled with enigmatic characters, including a flamboyant, otherworldly chanteuse, a morally ambiguous businessman, and a mysterious faith healer. Nothing is as it seems, and as the couple struggles to navigate the hotel’s surreal, often unsettling spaces, they are forced to confront secrets about their marriage, themselves, and the life they thought they knew.
For Scorsese, the story offers familiar terrain, with psychologically intricate characters and an unsettling atmosphere reminiscent of Shutter Island, his previous collaboration with DiCaprio. The director has long demonstrated a unique talent for blending suspense, character-driven drama, and visual storytelling, and pairing that with DiCaprio’s magnetic intensity and Lawrence’s nuanced performances promises a cinematic experience that will linger in audiences’ minds.
This marks the first time Lawrence will work directly under Scorsese’s direction, though the filmmaker produced her latest Cannes-acclaimed project, Die, My Love. The film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, earned Lawrence widespread praise and Oscar buzz, making her reunion with DiCaprio under Scorsese an even more tantalizing proposition for fans. Meanwhile, DiCaprio, who is about to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, brings the seasoned intensity that has defined his collaborations with Scorsese over two decades.
With Apple and Studiocanal Onboard, Martin Scorsese Promises Unforgettable Performances
Apple Original Films emerges as the ideal partner for this project, having backed both Killers of the Flower Moon and Causeway, and maintaining first-look deals with Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Studiocanal’s involvement ensures that the adaptation remains faithful to Cameron’s vision, while Marber’s screenplay adds a sophisticated, character-driven lens to the eerie, snow-laden story.
As per the reports from The Deadline, the production team is eyeing a January start, and anticipation is building for this union of three Oscar-winning talents. As Scorsese balances multiple projects, including a Hawaii-set crime drama starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, What Happens at Night is shaping up to be a signature event, blending suspense, surrealism, and masterful performances.
For audiences,, the promise of DiCaprio and Lawrence returning to the screen together, guided by Scorsese’s precise and visionary eye, is nothing short of electric. Between the hauntingly frozen European landscapes, the mysterious hotel, and a cast of eccentric characters yet to be finalized, What Happens at Night is poised to be one of the most anticipated, atmospheric, and star-studded films of the coming year.
