Mads Mikkelsen Joins New Scorsese Film What Happens at Night Starring Leonardo DiCaprio

The next film from master director Martin Scorsese is taking shape. After Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, another big name actor is set to join the cast. According to Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider, Mads Mikkelsen is currently in talks for a role in "What Happens at Night".

This is what "What Happens at Night" is about

Scorsese is devoting himself to the film adaptation of Peter Cameron's novel of the same name. It is about an American couple who travel to a remote, snow-covered small town in Europe. The couple want to adopt a baby in an orphanage there. In the small town, they stay in an old hotel where they meet strange people. "What Happens at Night" is described as a nightmarish story in which nothing is as it seems.

It is not yet clear what role Mikkelsen will play. However, it can be assumed that he will play one of the characters that the couple encounters in the hotel. The couple, in turn, will be played by DiCaprio and Lawrence. While DiCaprio has been in front of the camera for Scorsese several times before, this will be the first time for the "Hunger Games" star and Mads Mikkelsen.

Originally, Scorsese only wanted to oversee the project as a producer. However, it has now been clear for some time that he will also direct the film. The industry magazine Deadline recently reported that Apple could finance the project together with Studiocanal. Scorsese and DiCaprio last collaborated with Apple on the historical film "Killers of the Flower Moon". It is not yet clear when "What Happens at Night" will be released.

Scorsese and DiCaprio: a dream team

Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential directors in film history. Since the 1970s, he has shaped American cinema with stylistically striking, morally complex works. His early milestones include "Taxi Driver" with Robert De Niro, a dark portrait of urban alienation. He also brought "Raging Bull" to the cinema in 1980. This is still considered one of the best sports films ever made. In the 90s, he cemented his reputation with gangster films such as "Goodfellas" and "Casino".

Another major and successful phase began in the early 00s with his collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. Together they made a series of films that were great successes both artistically and commercially. "Gangs of New York" marked the beginning, followed by the opulent biopic "The Aviator", in which DiCaprio played the eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes. With "The Departed", Scorsese and DiCaprio achieved another extremely successful collaboration. "Shutter Island" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" also showcased the duo's creative range, from psychological thrillers to biting satire on the world of finance. More recently, with films such as "The Irishman" and "Killers of the Flower Moon", Scorsese proved that he has lost none of his narrative power even in old age.

Mads Mikkelsen's best-known films and series

Mads Mikkelsen began his career in Danish cinema and gradually worked his way to the top internationally. He first became known for the "Pusher" films, in which he played rough and realistic characters. He established himself as an outstanding character actor with the multi-award-winning drama "The Hunt". He celebrated another success in 2021 with "Another Round".

At the same time, Mikkelsen became known to a global audience through major international productions. As Bond adversary Le Chiffre in "Casino Royale", he left a lasting impression. Mikkelsen's performance made him one of the most impressive Bond villains ever. He later also appeared in the Marvel film "Doctor Strange" and in the "Fantastic Beasts" series. There he embodied the antagonist Gellert Grindelwald. He was also seen in a supporting role in the "Star Wars" film "Rogue One". He achieved cult status with the series "Hannibal", in which he reinterpreted the famous character of Hannibal Lecter in a subtle, sinister way.