Legendary director Martin Scorsese is already in Prague to prepare for the production of What Happens at Night, and his stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence will soon join him. Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival this week, DiCaprio confirmed that he will join Scorsese in Prague in “two weeks,” marking the start of one of the most high-profile film shoots to come to the Czech capital in recent years.
“It’s been an incredible learning process to for me to to just absorb his knowledge of of not only cinema history, but how he interprets it,” DiCaprio said of working with Scorsese at a SBIFF discussion. “You know, the thought that he puts into he has films running all day long in his house. He lives and breathes cinema.”
“And to see how he takes all of that knowledge and infuses it into his his own art form is has just been incredible to watch […] We’re doing our next film called What Happens at Night with Jennifer Lawrence. I’m leaving in two weeks, so it’s going to be another journey.”
The director’s daughter, Francesca Scorsese, has shared Instagram stories capturing her father in Prague, reinforcing reports that pre-production is actively underway. In line with DiCaprio’s comments, The Prague Reporter can exclusively confirm that location shoots for What Happens at Night are scheduled for Prague’s city center at the end of February, with additional filming planned for mid-March.
The project will be produced by Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions in partnership with Apple Studios and Studiocanal. Adapted by Patrick Marber from Peter Cameron’s novel, the story follows an American couple traveling to a snowy European town to adopt a child, only to find themselves in a mysterious hotel populated by eccentric and unsettling figures.
Prague shoot and production details
While some filming is expected to take place in controlled studio settings and locations outside Prague, the city’s historic architecture and versatile locations are expected to double for the novel’s unnamed European town. Local studios and experienced Czech crews are anticipated to support both interior and exterior sequences, continuing the city’s growing reputation as a hub for major international productions.
What Happens at Night arrives in Prague as another major production, the new Netflix adaptation of The Age of Innocence, is expected to wrap filming in the Czech capital in March. Coincidentally, Scorsese previously directed the 1991 version of The Age of Innocence, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The film reunites Scorsese with DiCaprio, marking their seventh collaboration following Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Shutter Island. Lawrence joins the project for her first on-screen collaboration with the director, though Scorsese recently produced her feature Die My Love. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, a long-time collaborator of Scorsese, is attached, continuing a partnership that has shaped the visual style of the director’s recent works.
With pre-production officially underway in Prague, the film is expected to continue Scorsese’s exploration of psychological and thriller elements, themes he has previously touched on in films like Shutter Island, Cape Fear, and Taxi Driver. The story’s snowbound, surreal setting aligns with Prague’s capacity to replicate a European winter town, offering both visual authenticity and production efficiency.
Cast, speculation, and industry impact
Alongside DiCaprio and Lawrence, Patricia Clarkson has been officially confirmed as part of the cast for What Happens at Night. Industry reports have suggested that Mads Mikkelsen may also join the film, though this has not been officially confirmed. The ensemble brings together multiple Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated talents, reflecting the project’s significant prestige.
The arrival of Scorsese and DiCaprio, combined with the film’s registration with local authorities, underscores Prague’s appeal as a location for large-scale, auteur-driven productions. What Happens at Night is likely to rank among the most culturally significant international films to be produced in the Czech Republic in recent years, potentially premiering at major global festivals and leaving a mark on the city’s film industry.
Positioned for a 2027 release, What Happens at Night positions Prague once again as a prime destination for internationally acclaimed filmmakers, offering a mix of historic architecture, professional crews, and studio resources capable of supporting high-caliber cinematic projects.
Lead photo: Leonardo DiCaprio at a press event for Killers of the Flower Moon at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 / Prague’s March skyline courtesy DepositPhotos.com. Montage: The Prague Reporter
2 Responses
Isn’t it strange that two weeks into filming there are only three confirmed cast names?
We should get another official cast update in the coming weeks — not so unusual to hold these announcements until filming is underway