Filming for Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated What Happens at Night on location in Prague is officially underway as of Friday, Feb. 27. The production kicked off with a single-day shoot at the W Prague hotel (formerly Grand Hotel Europa) on Wenceslas Square, marking the first visible step in bringing Peter Cameron’s novel to the screen.
The shoot was discreet, with production vehicles parked in central areas of the square under construction and along the back entrance to the hotel on Politických vězňů street. Given the story’s focus on a mysterious hotel, it can be speculated that the W Prague will play the central location for the film’s European setting, though production can be expected to primarily take place in studio.
The star-studded ensemble cast for What Happens at Night now includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mads Mikkelsen, Patricia Clarkson, and Jared Harris. Filming is expected to continue in the Czech capital throughout next month, with additional location shoots planned for mid-March.
Production of What Happens at Night in Prague. Photos © The Prague Reporter
A cinematic and historical landmark
The W Prague, previously known as Grand Hotel Europa, recently underwent a decade-long restoration that saw the location reopen in October 2024, combining late 19th-century Art Nouveau charm with modern luxury. With ornate façades, lavish interiors, and historic significance, the property has frequently been cited as one of the city’s most distinctive hotels and a close real-life parallel to Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel.
The hotel’s history spans over 150 years, hosting cultural and political figures such as Franz Kafka and Nicholas Winton. Its interiors have appeared on film previously, including the original Mission: Impossible, while its Art Nouveau dining room reportedly inspired the set of James Cameron’s Titanic.
Today, the W Prague balances restored historical spaces like Café Evropa with contemporary venues such as the Above rooftop bar and Bisou cocktail lounge, offering both cinematic atmosphere and modern functionality.
This layered history and architectural presence would make the W Prague an ideal setting for What Happens at Night, in which a married American couple encounters unsettling figures in a snowbound European hotel.
Production on What Happens at Night
What Happens at Night is adapted from Cameron’s novel, with a screenplay by Patrick Marber. The film follows an American couple who travel to Europe to adopt a child, only to find themselves isolated in a mysterious hotel, confronting psychological tension and surreal occurrences.
The production is led by Scorsese through Sikelia Productions, in partnership with Apple Original Films and Studiocanal. Rodrigo Prieto, Scorsese’s long-time cinematographer, is expected to handle the film’s visual direction, continuing a collaboration that includes Killers of the Flower Moon and The Wolf of Wall Street.
The cast brings multiple Oscar-winning and nominated actors together. DiCaprio confirmed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival that he would be joining the Prague shoot in late February. Lawrence co-stars, marking her first on-screen collaboration with Scorsese, while Mikkelsen portrays Brother Emmanuel, a mysterious faith healer.
Harris, the most recent addition to the cast, is no stranger to Prague; he has spent considerable time in the city filming seasons two and three of Apple TV+’s Foundation, with season four currently in production in the Czech Republic, though his involvement has not been confirmed.
The start of production on What Happens at Night signals the beginning of one of Prague’s most high-profile international productions in recent years, combining the city’s cinematic locations, experienced crews, and historic architecture to support a production of global scale. While much of the story is expected to be shot in studio, the city-center location can give audiences a first glimpse of Scorsese’s interpretation of Cameron’s eerie European hotel.
With principal photography now underway, What Happens at Night continues to generate anticipation as it brings together a world-class creative team in the heart of Prague. While the film could potentially release at the end of the year, a 2027 debut is anticipated given Scorsese’s typically lengthy post-production process.
Lead photo: W Hotel Prague © The Prague Reporter
