Another heavyweight name has entered what is already one of the most stacked casts of the year.
Jared Harris is set to join Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming feature What Happens at Night.
Backed by Apple Original Films in partnership with Studiocanal, the film is shaping up to be one of Scorsese’s most intriguing projects in recent years.
A Dream-Like Story in a Snowy European Town
Adapted from the novel by Peter Cameron, What Happens at Night follows a married American couple who travel to a small, snow-covered European town to adopt a baby.
But this isn’t a simple family drama.
Described as dream-like in tone, the story gradually unravels into something far more unsettling as the couple becomes entangled in the eerie atmosphere of the town. If Scorsese’s past work is any indication, expect layered psychology, moral tension, and emotional intensity beneath the quiet snowfall.
The screenplay has been penned by playwright and screenwriter Patrick Marber, known for his sharp, character-driven writing.
A Cast Packed With Prestige
Harris joins an already formidable lineup that includes Patricia Clarkson and Mads Mikkelsen.
For Scorsese and DiCaprio, this marks yet another collaboration after The Aviator, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and most recently Killers of the Flower Moon, which earned 10 Oscar nominations.
Lawrence, meanwhile, continues her growing relationship with Apple, having previously worked on Causeway and the documentary Bread & Roses. She is also set to star in and produce the upcoming Apple-backed murder mystery The Wives.
Jared Harris: A Performer With Range
Harris is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most respected stage and screen actors.
From portraying Andy Warhol in I Shot Andy Warhol to appearing in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Lincoln, his filmography spans decades. On television, he has delivered standout performances in Mad Men, The Crown, The Terror, and the Emmy-winning miniseries Chernobyl.
His presence often signals gravitas — and in a Scorsese psychological drama, that’s no small thing.
Another Major Apple–Scorsese Collaboration
The project also underscores Apple Original Films’ continued push into prestige cinema. Following the critical success of Killers of the Flower Moon, the tech giant appears committed to backing ambitious, auteur-driven filmmaking.
For Scorsese, What Happens at Night adds to a late-career run that has balanced sweeping epics with intimate character studies.
This one sounds like it leans toward the latter — though with Scorsese, intimacy often comes with intensity.
Final Words
With Jared Harris now joining Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Patricia Clarkson, and Mads Mikkelsen, What Happens at Night is shaping into a prestige ensemble that feels awards-ready on paper.
A snow-covered European setting. A mysterious adoption journey. A dream-like narrative. And Martin Scorsese at the helm.
If all the pieces fall into place, this could be one of the most quietly haunting films on the upcoming slate.
