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Martin Scorsese reteams with A-list talent for a chilling adaptation
Martin Scorsese has reportedly chosen his next feature: an atmospheric adaptation of Peter Cameron's ghost-story novel What Happens at Night, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence attached to star. Sources say the film is targeting a January start of production, with Apple Original Films in talks to finance and produce alongside Studiocanal, which developed Patrick Marber's screenplay.
The project marks another high-profile collaboration in Scorsese's later career, one that continues his interest in psychologically mysterious material. After Killers of the Flower Moon and the earlier Scorsese-DiCaprio partnership on Shutter Island, this new film leans into icy, dreamlike territory—a mood piece built on suspense, character ambiguity, and a sense of dislocation.
What the story promises
The narrative follows a married American couple who travel to a remote, snowbound European town to adopt a baby. They lodge in a cavernous, mostly deserted hotel and encounter an odd ensemble: a flamboyant chanteuse, a corrupt businessman, and a charismatic faith healer among them. As the couple navigates the adoption and the town's secrets, the story intentionally blurs reality and illusion, undermining the characters' sense of identity and the stability of their marriage.
This premise naturally invites comparisons to Shutter Island, which Scorsese and DiCaprio adapted from Dennis Lehane's novel. But What Happens at Night promises a different texture: quieter psychological dread, European winter landscapes, and an ensemble of eccentric supporting roles that could let Scorsese explore tone and atmosphere rather than procedural twists.
Industry context and production notes
Studiocanal acquired the rights in 2023 and commissioned Patrick Marber to write the screenplay; Scorsese was initially attached as a producer while considering other follow-ups to Killers of the Flower Moon. With Apple in preliminary talks, the film fits a growing pattern: major streaming platforms financing auteur-driven cinema in partnership with established European studios. Apple previously backed Killers of the Flower Moon and maintains first-look relationships with Scorsese's Sikelia and DiCaprio's Appian Way banners, making it a logical home for the new adaptation.
Leonardo DiCaprio arrives amid strong momentum: his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another is generating wide anticipation and critical buzz. Jennifer Lawrence, meanwhile, is coming off Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love, which premiered at Cannes. The casting gives the project three Oscar winners above the line, raising expectations for both performance and awards-season visibility.
Why fans and cinephiles should watch
For viewers who enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers and character-driven mysteries, this film checks the right boxes: a high-caliber director, two star leads known for dramatic range, and a script adapted from a novel that thrives on unsettling atmosphere. Expect Scorsese to populate the hotel with memorable character actors and to use setting and mood as storytelling tools rather than relying solely on plot mechanics.
Film critic Anna Kovacs offers a measured view: 'This pairing of Scorsese with DiCaprio and Lawrence suggests a deliberate move toward mood and interiority. If the director leans into the novel's dream logic, the film could be one of his most quietly unnerving works in years.'
Casting for the supporting, eccentric roles is expected to follow once financing and distribution terms are finalized. Stay tuned as negotiations with Apple conclude and Scorsese assembles a crew for what may become one of the more intriguing auteur projects on the coming season's calendar.
Source: deadline
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