Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese is preparing to direct an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s haunting novel What Happens at Night, with Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence taking the lead roles.
According to Variety, Apple Original Films is currently in talks to finance and produce the project alongside Studiocanal, which secured the novel’s rights in 2023.
The screenplay is being written by Patrick Marber, who is known for his compelling character-driven narratives. The story follows an American couple traveling to a mysterious, snow-covered European city to adopt a baby.
The wife, who is battling cancer, struggles with her deteriorating health throughout the journey, while the husband worries that her illness might jeopardize their hopes of adoption. The chilling backdrop, paired with the couple’s personal struggles, promises a deeply emotional and atmospheric tale that blends elements of ghost story, grief, and resilience.
This project adds another chapter to the long-standing collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, who have already worked together on six acclaimed films over two decades, including The Wolf of Wall Street and The Aviator.
However, What Happens at Night will be Scorsese’s first directorial venture with Jennifer Lawrence, though he previously produced her upcoming film Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay. Lawrence’s performance in that project, which premiered at Cannes 2025, is already creating Oscar buzz.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release this fall, further adding to a packed awards season. DiCaprio, meanwhile, is receiving critical acclaim for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which is set to open the Gallas section of the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival.
Fans will also note this is not the first time DiCaprio and Lawrence have shared the screen, as the duo previously co-starred in the 2021 satirical drama Don’t Look Up.
