The Kaipher Editorial Team 
Martin Scorsese has officially committed to directing his next film, What Happens at Night, reuniting with Leonardo DiCaprio for the seventh time and marking his first collaboration with Jennifer Lawrence. The ghost story adaptation represents a major venture for Scorsese following his 2023 epic Killers of the Flower Moon and underscores Apple Original Films’ growing role in high-profile cinema.
A Haunting Tale of Adoption and Identity
Based on Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel, What Happens at Night follows an American couple who journey to a remote snowy European town to adopt a baby. They check into a vast, nearly deserted hotel inhabited by enigmatic figures—a flamboyant chanteuse, a depraved businessman, and a charismatic faith healer. As the couple fights to bring their child home, they begin losing their sense of self and questioning the nature of reality. Patrick Marber—Oscar-nominated for Notes on a Scandal—has penned the screenplay, drawing comparisons to The Shining and Twin Peaks and echoing the psychological tension of Scorsese and DiCaprio’s Shutter Island (Bloody Disgusting).
Apple Original Films and Studiocanal Partnership
Apple Original Films is in advanced negotiations to finance and produce the project alongside Studiocanal, leveraging existing first-look deals with Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Production is slated to begin in January 2026, with Apple expected to distribute globally via Apple TV+ and theatrical windows. The collaboration represents Apple’s continued push into auteur-driven features and cements Studiocanal’s role in high-end European co-productions (World of Reel).
Continuing Creative Partnerships
This will be Scorsese and DiCaprio’s seventh feature collaboration, following Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). For Lawrence, it marks her first time under Scorsese’s direction, although he produced her Cannes-premiering drama Die, My Love. Both DiCaprio and Lawrence are riding career highs: DiCaprio garnered acclaim in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, while Lawrence received raves for Die, My Love at Cannes 2025.
Project Evolution and Scorsese’s Vision
Studiocanal acquired the novel’s adaptation rights in 2023, initially attaching Scorsese as producer. His decision to direct reflects a personal investment in the material’s themes of identity and horror at age 82, showcasing his enduring appetite for psychologically complex narratives. With a top-tier cast, auteur pedigree, and the backing of Apple and Studiocanal, What Happens at Night is poised to be one of the most anticipated films of 2026.
