Every few years Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up and the whole movie world stops to pay attention. This time though, the news that got people searching wasn’t about Leo at all. It was about Charli xcx. Yes, the “Brat” girl. On October 22, Variety reported that she has a cameo in Scorsese’s next film, What Happens at Night, and within a day my feed was full of it. So here I am at night with chai, jotting down whatever is actually known about this film. Rumours kept out, mostly.
So what’s the story of What Happens at Night?
It comes from a book. Peter Cameron wrote it in 2020, same title, and Patrick Marber (the Closer guy) turned it into a script. On paper the plot sounds pretty plain. An American married couple travels to a small, snowy town somewhere in Europe to adopt a baby. Things don’t go smoothly. The harder they try to bring the child home, the less sure they become about who they really are.
Variety calls it a Gothic psychological drama. Wikipedia lists it as Gothic psychological horror, and a few music sites went straight to “horror film” in their headlines. I’d say expect something slow, cold and unsettling rather than jump scares. DiCaprio himself said Scorsese made him rewatch Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958) as a reference point. Says plenty about the vibe, no?
Cast list (so far)
Leo and Jennifer Lawrence are the husband and wife. Funny thing, their characters don’t even get names, the credits just say “The Man” and “The Woman”. Creepy already, right?
Here is the rest of the cast reported so far:
- Mads Mikkelsen as Brother Emmanuel
- Patricia Clarkson
- Jared Harris
- Welker White (a regular in Scorsese films like Goodfellas and The Irishman)
- Ilinca Manolache
- Gabriel Spahiu
- Charli xcx, in a cameo
Mikkelsen joined in December 2025, Clarkson in January 2026, Harris in February and White in March. The two Romanian actors, Manolache and Spahiu, were revealed in May. Charli was the last name to come out, in October.
Charli xcx’s cameo: what we know
Very little. Honestly, they’re keeping it hush on purpose. Variety’s people say it’s a cameo, and the role itself is “being kept under wraps.” Reps for Charli, Apple and StudioCanal did not comment.
What makes this fun is the backstory. Charli’s latest album, Music, Fashion, Film, came out in July. Its cover is a black-and-white photo of three icons sitting together in a kitchen: John Cale for music, Marc Jacobs for fashion and Martin Scorsese for film. So the director already appeared on her album, and now she appears in his movie. Kind of a full-circle moment.
She has been busy on screen too. Variety notes she has appeared in seven movies in the past two years, including The Moment, a mockumentary from her longtime collaborator Aidan Zamiri that pokes fun at her own “Brat” success. Plus she’s touring. The US leg was ending with a Las Vegas gig, and Europe comes after, from February.
Who’s behind it, and which studio?
Money and muscle come from Apple Original Films, teamed with StudioCanal. Lots of banners on this one: Apple Studios, StudioCanal, Sikelia (that’s Marty’s company), Appian Way (Leo’s) and Excellent Cadaver (Jennifer’s). Producer credits go to Scorsese, Leo, Jennifer plus Daniel Lupi.
Crew wise, it’s the old gang again. Rodrigo Prieto on camera, Thelma Schoonmaker cutting it. Seen Killers of the Flower Moon? Or The Irishman? Then you know this pair.
One interesting bit of gossip: in March 2026, journalist Jeff Sneider reported that Paul Thomas Anderson did an uncredited rewrite of Marber’s script at DiCaprio’s request. Studio never confirmed it though. Pinch of salt, folks.
Shooting: where and when
Cameras rolled in the Czech Republic from February 24, 2026. Some scenes were also shot in Switzerland. By May 29, reports said the film had moved into post-production. So the shoot itself is done and the editing room is where the movie now lives.
The project has a long history. Scorsese first came on board as a producer back in April 2023. In September 2025 it was reported he would direct, with DiCaprio and Lawrence leading the cast. Interesting side note, the same trio was earlier attached to a Frank Sinatra biopic, which got postponed.
What Happens at Night release date
Here is the part everyone wants to know, and I have to be straight with you. No date. Nothing. I checked Variety, Billboard, Pitchfork, every one of them says it’s still unset. Theatres first, or direct to Apple TV? Apple hasn’t said a word.
Known fact: it’s his next one after Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), the Leo film that landed 10 Oscar nods, Best Picture too. That one played in cinemas before hitting streaming, and I won’t be shocked if this goes the same route. But until Apple says it, that’s just my guess.
Why everyone is talking about it now
Partly it’s the cast. DiCaprio plus Jennifer Lawrence plus Mads Mikkelsen is a stacked lineup for a slow-burn mystery. Partly it’s Scorsese, who is still making films at this level after six decades. And yes, a lot of it is Charli xcx. Pop fans who had no idea this film existed are now Googling it, and film fans are curious how a pop star fits into a Gothic Scorsese movie.
I’ll be honest, I am most curious about the tone. A Vertigo-inspired adoption story in a frozen European town with Leo and J-Law? That could be something special.
Quick questions people are asking
Is Charli xcx actually in a Scorsese film?
Yep. Variety broke it on October 22, 2026, a cameo in What Happens at Night. Who she plays, nobody’s telling.
Leo and Jennifer, are they the leads?
They are, as the married pair. Both are producers too, by the way.
Horror or drama, which one?
Depends who you ask. Variety went with Gothic psychological drama, Wikipedia and a bunch of others say psychological horror. Dark and eerie either way, I’d bet.
Which book is it based on?
Peter Cameron’s 2020 novel, same title. Script by Patrick Marber.
So when does it come out?
Not out yet. Shooting is over and since May 2026 it’s been in post-production.
Where do I watch it?
Apple and StudioCanal made it, so Apple TV is a safe guess for streaming at some point. Cinema release? Not confirmed.
I’ll update this post when Apple drops a trailer or a date. Leo plus Jennifer, or the Charli surprise, what are you more hyped for? Comments are open.