Martin Scorsese Reunites With Leonardo DiCaprio for New Horror Mystery

Martin Scorsese’s next film is getting closer, and it looks like a major change of pace for him. ‘What Happens at Night’ is an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Patrick Marber, the writer behind ‘Closer’ and ‘Notes on a Scandal’.

The project comes from Apple Original Films and Studiocanal, reuniting Scorsese with the studio behind ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. Variety described it as a haunted marriage drama that could put the director back in the psychological horror territory of ‘Shutter Island’.

Now the picture is getting clearer. Scorsese returns with a horror mystery set in a remote European town, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen, and the film is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

The story follows a married American couple who travel to a small, snowy European town to adopt a baby. They check into an eerily deserted Grand Hotel, where they meet a strange cast of characters as their relationship is pushed to its limits.

Mikkelsen plays Brother Emmanuel, a mysterious faith healer. The ensemble also includes Patricia Clarkson, Jared Harris, Louis Cancelmi, Ilinca Manolache, Gabriel Spahiu, and longtime Scorsese collaborator Welker White.

Martin Scorsese returns with ‘WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT’ — a horror mystery set in a remote European town. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Mads Mikkelsen. Expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. https://t.co/O6AxFGjltb

— Cinema Solace (@SolaceCinema) November 9, 2026

The first-look image, released in March, set the tone right away. It shows DiCaprio and Lawrence in period clothing, walking hand in hand through a snow-covered rural landscape with a vintage taxi behind them.

The film marks the 7th collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, following ‘Gangs of New York’, ‘The Aviator’, ‘The Departed’, ‘Shutter Island’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. It’s also Lawrence’s first time working with the director, though he produced her film ‘Die My Love’.

First look at Martin Scorsese’s next film ‘WHAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. The film follows a married couple who travel to a small European town to adopt a baby but nothing is quite as it seems. https://t.co/MJZscVv9Q6

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 19, 2026

It’s only the second time DiCaprio and Lawrence have starred together, following 2021’s ‘Don’t Look Up’. Both actors also serve as producers alongside Scorsese and Daniel Lupi. DiCaprio has already hinted at the film’s tone. He revealed that Scorsese asked him to rewatch Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ as a reference point for the project.

Production began on February 24 in the Czech Republic, with locations that reportedly included the Art Nouveau W Prague hotel. The shoot was unusually short for Scorsese at around 3 months, a big change from the long schedules of films like ‘The Aviator’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.

#LeonardoDiCaprio and #JenniferLawrence discussed prepping for Martin Scorsese’s next film “What Happens at Night” on last season’s #ActorsOnActors. See the first look at the upcoming project: https://t.co/jQMwn8S3xi https://t.co/j8uGeIwGzp

— Variety (@Variety) March 19, 2026

The film moved into post-production in May. That timeline has led many to believe Apple is saving it for a major festival launch instead of rushing into this year’s awards race. There’s also an emotional layer to the project. Scorsese’s daughter Francesca has called it his most personal film, saying she burst into tears after reading the script, and has linked its themes of grief, love and illness to the family’s own experiences.

Apple hasn’t set an official release date yet. But industry watchers have long expected the film to target Cannes, and a splashy festival premiere would give it a strong start before a wider awards season rollout.

With a legendary director, 2 Oscar-winning stars and a chilling premise, ‘What Happens at Night’ is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films on the festival calendar. If it delivers on its haunting promise, it could mark an exciting new chapter in Scorsese’s career.

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