Martin Scorsese is set to direct his next project, an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s eerie novel “What Happens at Night,” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in the lead roles. Apple Original Films is currently in discussions to provide financing and co-production support for the film in collaboration with Studiocanal, the company that acquired the rights to Cameron’s book last year. The script is being crafted by Patrick Marber, known for his Oscar-nominated work on “Notes on a Scandal.”
The narrative revolves around an American couple embarking on a journey to a snow-covered European city with the intention of adopting a child. As the wife battles cancer, her health deteriorates during the trip, while her husband harbors concerns about the orphanage rejecting their application. Upon arriving at the mysterious Borgarfjaroasysla Grand Imperial Hotel, characterized by a perpetually open bar and enigmatic inhabitants, they encounter a peculiar ensemble of characters, including an aging singer and a enigmatic healer.
In this icy setting, reality blurs, leading the couple’s pursuit of a child to unravel deeper existential questions about their relationship, identities, and the essence of life itself. This new film collaboration reunites Scorsese and DiCaprio, who have previously collaborated on six movies spanning two decades, from “Gangs of New York” to “Killers of the Flower Moon.” For Lawrence, this project marks her first experience working under Scorsese’s direction, although the director also served as a producer on her recent Cannes-debuted film “Die My Love,” which has garnered significant awards attention.
Both DiCaprio and Lawrence come into this project riding on success. DiCaprio has been receiving critical acclaim for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” while Lawrence, known for her performance in Apple’s “Causeway,” previously shared the screen with DiCaprio in the 2021 satirical film “Don’t Look Up.” Given Apple’s past collaboration with Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and DiCaprio’s Appian Way, the tech giant is considered the frontrunner to bring “What Happens at Night” to audiences.