Leonardo DiCaprio has returned to the Czech Republic after attending the Academy Awards in Los Angeles last Sunday to continue shooting Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated What Happens at Night. The production has already utilized several Czech locations, including Prague, Ratboř, and Úštěk, where streets were temporarily closed and the local landscape transformed with artificial snow.
This week, the What Happens at Night production crew has moved to the historic town of Žatec, and filming in the area is expected to continue through early next month. The production has overtaken several key locations in the town, drawing attention from local media, with Blesk and Deník publishing photos and video from the wintry set.
Scorsese is directing and producing What Happens at Night, an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name. The film reunites the director with frequent star DiCaprio, with Jennifer Lawrence marking her first collaboration with the legendary director. Supporting roles feature Mads Mikkelsen, Patricia Clarkson, Jared Harris, and Welker White.
Žatec transforms into a wintry European town
In Žatec, the production has staged dramatic winter sequences on the historic iron bridge over the Ohře River, creating a snow-covered European setting for the story. Scenes include a flipped truck, scattered logs, old cars, and ambulances, as well as artificial snow effects. For one sequence, a temporary wooden ferry has been constructed on the river, which will be used by the main character to cross the water; it remains to be seen whether DiCaprio or a stunt double will perform this crossing.
Local streets have been closed to traffic during filming, while production vehicles and crew facilities occupy nearby areas. Additional scenes are planned over the Easter weekend. The scale of the setup highlights the film’s ambitious production design, with special attention to the snowy and mysterious atmosphere of the European town.
For What Happens at Night, Žatec was chosen for its historic architecture and well-preserved town center, which allows it to convincingly represent a European locale frozen in winter. The town has hosted dozens of international productions in the past, including Jojo Rabbit, 1998’s Les Misérables with Liam Neeson, and Roman Polanski‘s Oliver Twist.
Filming on What Happens at Night is estimated to bring significant economic benefits to Žatec, with the rental of public spaces alone generating over CZK 480,000 for the town.
Behind the scenes of Scorsese’s production
The filming process for What Happens at Night is tightly controlled to ensure both security and artistic precision. Actors are moved between locations in cars, and there is minimal opportunity for fans to capture photographs, though locals sometimes attempt to observe the production using binoculars. Artificial snow and other set elements are meticulously created to evoke the novel’s wintry atmosphere.
The story follows an American couple traveling to a snowy European town to adopt a child, confronting mysterious and supernatural elements that challenge both their understanding of their marriage and themselves.
The narrative’s blend of suspense, marital drama, and supernatural undertones has been described as a “haunted marriage story,” evoking elements of Scorsese’s previous psychological dramas such as Shutter Island. Patrick Marber adapted Cameron’s novel, with Paul Thomas Anderson also reportedly contributing to the script.
The film is produced in partnership with Apple Original Films and StudioCanal, with Apple distributing. Scorsese is producing through Sikelia Productions alongside DiCaprio, Lawrence, and Daniel Lupi, while executive producers include Lisa Frechette and Marianne Bower for Sikelia, Jennifer Davisson for Appian Way, Justine Ciarrocchi for Excellent Cadaver, and StudioCanal’s Anna Marsh, Shana Eddy Grouf, and Aaron Ensweiler.
The ongoing production of What Happens at Night reinforces Czechia’s growing reputation as a key destination for international filmmakers. From Prague’s historic streets to the quieter towns of Úštěk, Ratboř, and now Žatec, local architecture and scenic environments are providing authentic European backdrops while offering filmmakers experienced crews and technical support.
For towns like Žatec, hosting Hollywood productions not only delivers immediate economic benefits but also builds long-term visibility. Filming in the area is expected to continue into early April, particularly around the historic iron bridge and riverbank areas.
Lead photo: Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in What Happens at Night © Apple Original Films / Niko Tavernise | Žatec town center courtesy DepositPhotos.com. Montage: The Prague Reporter
