Martin Scorsese, fresh from the critical success of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” will next direct What Happens at Night, a haunting thriller set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, industry insiders tell Deadline. Based on Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel, the film follows an American couple who travel to a remote European city to adopt a child—only to find their fragile relationship tested by inexplicable, supernatural forces.
Patrick Marber, acclaimed for his stage and screen work, has been tapped to adapt Cameron’s dreamlike narrative, which balances grief, love and eerie suspense. Scorsese will produce alongside DiCaprio and longtime collaborator Rick Yorn, with Studiocanal—originally behind the novel’s 2023 option—again on board. Apple TV+ is in advanced talks to co-finance and stream the picture, marking another high-profile alliance as the platform rounds out its prestige slate.
DiCaprio’s involvement extends his partnership with Scorsese to seven films, dating back to 2002’s “Gangs of New York.” Lawrence, meanwhile, will make her first appearance under Scorsese’s direction, bringing her award-winning versatility to the supernatural genre. Both actors are believed to be finalizing schedules, with shooting eyed for early 2026 in Europe and North America.
Film historians note that Scorsese’s choice to tackle an outright ghost story represents a notable turn. “He’s never shied from genre, but this is his first full dive into the supernatural,” says scholar Matthew Richards of NYU’s cinema studies department. “It speaks to a director still eager to expand his artistic palette.” Others observe that pairing two of Hollywood’s most bankable stars should broaden the film’s reach beyond arthouse audiences.
Although no release date has been announced, executives expect the project to move swiftly through pre-production. Behind the scenes, Marber is polishing a second draft, while potential collaborators— including Scorsese mainstay cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto—are lining up. With its blend of psychological intrigue and spectral mystery, What Happens at Night promises an unexpected new chapter in one of cinema’s most celebrated careers.
