‘What Happens at Night’: Martin Scorsese is in Prague ahead of shoot for DiCaprio-Lawrence film

Martin Scorsese has arrived in Prague ahead of the expected start of production on What Happens at Night, his upcoming feature starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, according to posts from his daughter on Instagram. The director’s presence in the Czech capital adds further weight to reports that Prague will play a direct role in one of the most high-profile international film shoots to reach the city in recent years.

Scorsese’s arrival was discretely revealed through Instagram stories posted by his daughter, Francesca Scorsese, as well as on the director’s own account. While official production announcements remain limited, multiple industry indicators now point to active preparation for filming in the Czech Republic.

After months of uncertainty following the project’s initial announcement late last year, the presence of Scorsese in the Czech capital all but confirms that filming in Prague is imminent. What Happens at Night has also been registered with the Czech Audiovisual Fund, signaling that local production activity is formally underway.

Prague locations confirmed

Based on the setting of Peter Cameron’s novel, much of What Happens at Night is expected to be filmed in controlled studio environments and locations outside Prague, standing in for an unnamed, snowbound European town. However, The Prague Reporter can exclusively reveal that some location shooting will take place within Prague’s city center in March.

While Prague has hosted a steady stream of international productions in recent years, a Scorsese feature starring DiCaprio and Lawrence represents a rare level of prestige. The director has never previously shot a feature film in the Czech Republic, and the scale of the creative team involved places the project among the most significant productions to come to the city.

The film is backed by Apple Studios in partnership with Studiocanal and is being produced through Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions. The screenplay is adapted by Patrick Marber from Cameron’s novel, which follows a married American couple who travel to Europe to adopt a child, only to find themselves isolated in a vast, nearly deserted hotel filled with unsettling figures.

Although the novel’s setting is deliberately ambiguous, Prague’s architectural range and production infrastructure make it well suited to doubling for a generic European city. Local studios and experienced crews are expected to play a key role in the shoot, alongside exterior locations.

Cast expands as speculation continues

Alongside DiCaprio and Lawrence, Patricia Clarkson has officially joined the cast, according to Deadline. Clarkson’s recent work includes the biopic Lilly, Andrea Pallaoro’s Monica, and Universal’s She Said. Her role in What Happens at Night has not yet been disclosed.

Clarkson has some recent history in Czechia. The actress was awarded a Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2019, and later returned to be a part of the festival jury in 2023.

World of Reel reported in December that Mads Mikkelsen has also joined the cast of the film, citing unnamed sources. However, this casting has yet to be officially confirmed by the studio or representatives. Mikkelsen is also no stranger to the Czech Republic: he shot The Promised Land, A Royal Affair, and Casino Royale in the country, as well as the 2006 drama Prague.

If confirmed, the ensemble would bring together an unusually decorated group of talent. Between its director and principal cast members, the production accounts for multiple Academy Award wins and nearly two dozen nominations. DiCaprio is currently competing for Best Actor honors for his performance in One Battle After Another, further underlining the project’s awards-season profile.

What Happens at Night also continues Scorsese’s long-running collaboration with DiCaprio, marking their seventh feature together following Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Shutter Island. For Lawrence, the film represents her first on-screen collaboration with Scorsese, though he recently served as a producer on Die My Love.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto is also expected to rejoin Scorsese, continuing a partnership that has defined the visual style of the director’s recent work. Prieto has previously collaborated with the director on The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

While production timelines remain subject to change, Scorsese’s arrival in Prague and the project’s registration with Czech authorities indicate that preparations are moving forward. If the shoot proceeds as planned, What Happens at Night is likely to become one of the most culturally significant international features ever produced in the Czech Republic, reinforcing Prague’s position as a destination capable of supporting top-tier auteur-driven cinema.

Lead photo: Martin Scorsese at a press event for Killers of the Flower Moon in 2023 / Prague’s February skyline courtesy DepositPhotos.com. Montage: The Prague Reporter