The production of What Happens at Night, the upcoming mystery thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, is continuing to expand across the Czech Republic, with new filming planned in the historic town of Úštěk in northern Bohemia.
Local officials confirmed that Scorsese’s crew is expected to shoot scenes in the town in mid-March, adding another Czech location to a project that has already filmed near Kolín and is expected to also continue work in Prague, where it will primarily shoot in studio.
Historic town of Úštěk to host filming
According to local authorities, production on What Happens at Night, under the working title Schnapps, will move into Úštěk, a small historic town near Litoměřice, with preparations scheduled to begin on March 14. Filming is currently planned for March 16, weather permitting.
Mayor Ondřej Elísek confirmed that the Oscar-winning director is expected to be present during the shoot, though reports that DiCaprio himself will appear in the town remain unconfirmed.
“In Úštěk, only arrival and departure shots should be filmed, which will appear in the opening and closing credits,” Elísek said, adding that rumors about DiCaprio’s visit are still speculative.
The production for What Happens at Night plans to artificially create snow in several areas of the town center to create a winter setting for the film. Streets around Mírové náměstí, Panský dvůr, and parts of 1. máje street will be used for filming, while the crew’s base will be located in the town’s cultural center and nearby public spaces.
The shoot will require temporary closures in the historic center. Vehicles must be removed from affected streets early on the day of filming, and local bus routes will operate on adjusted stops. If filming proceeds as planned, cleanup and the crew’s departure are expected the following day.
Úštěk is no stranger to film productions. The town previously served as a location for Jojo Rabbit, among other projects, and its preserved historic architecture makes it attractive to international filmmakers seeking period settings.
Expanding Czech production for Scorsese’s latest film
The Úštěk shoot for What Happens at Night follows recent filming near Kolín, where the production was spotted at Château Kotěra in Ratboř. Photos published by Czech media showed DiCaprio and Lawrence on set in costume, with the actor appearing in glasses, darker hair, and a mustache.
The film is an adaptation of Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name and centers on an American couple traveling to a remote European town to adopt a child. They stay in a mysterious hotel populated by unusual characters, while the boundaries between reality and perception begin to blur.
Much of What Happens at Night‘s interior scenes are expected to be shot in studio in Prague, according to local reports, where large set constructions are planned to recreate the hotel that plays a central role in the story. Alongside DiCaprio and Lawrence, the film’s cast includes Mads Mikkelsen, Patricia Clarkson, and Jared Harris.
The project marks the latest collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio, whose partnership began with Gangs of New York in 2002 and continued through films including The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Their creative partnership has become one of the most prominent director-actor collaborations in contemporary Hollywood.
For the Czech film industry, the production represents another major international project following recent reforms to the country’s audiovisual incentive system. Industry representatives have said the changes are designed to attract large-scale productions back to the country after several years of declining foreign investment.
With filming now spanning multiple locations, What Happens at Night is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile international productions currently shooting in the Czech Republic, drawing global attention to Prague and other historic Czech locations as film settings.
Lead photo: Martin Scorsese at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Harald Krichel | Úštěk skyline courtesy Facebook / Město Úštěk. Montage: The Prague Reporter
