Dennis Lehane to Remake Finnish Hit ‘100 Litres of Gold’ Into Hilarious U.S Comedy

by

Dennis Lehane’s production company, Hans Bubby, has secured the rights to create an English adaptation of the Finnish dramedy titled “100 Litres of Gold.

In the capable hands of director Teemu Nikki, we find ourselves immersed in a predicament: there’s not a drop to drink, and a wedding is just days away! My dear sisters Taina and Pirkko have promised to concoct 100 liters of their renowned self-brewed beer, sahti. In our excitement, we tasted the new batch and it was so scrumptious, we polished off the entire batch – just a day before the big event! Now, we find ourselves in a pickle: we need to brew another 100 liters, and fast. By fair means or foul, we must ensure there’s enough of our beloved sahti for the wedding toast!

The movie, produced by It’s Alive Films, made its debut in Finland in March 2025 and swiftly became the most-viewed Finnish film of the year to date. Notably, this director is known for “Euthanizer,” Finland’s Oscar submission in 2018, as well as “The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic,” which won at Venice. His short film “All Inclusive” was showcased at Cannes in 2019.

Lehane found the story he was describing to be amusing, extreme, and focusing on individuals dwelling at society’s edges – a type of narrative he loved. He shared this idea with his partner, Mackenzie Pietzak, shortly after returning to the U.S. She was equally captivated, and together they decided to attempt an American adaptation.

Earlier, Lehane penned the screenplay for the Fox Searchlight movie “The Drop,” adapted from his own short story, and developed the Apple series “Black Bird” featuring Taron Egerton. His upcoming original series “Smoke” will debut on Apple TV+ on June 27.

While touring the Colosseum during the Rome Film Festival, I received an email from someone named Dennis,” said Teemu Nikki, looking back. “I responded thoughtlessly, only to later discover that ‘Dennis’ was none other than renowned author Dennis Lehane. In disbelief, I phoned Jani to confirm if it had all been a dream.

Jani Pösso, the well-known writer and producer, expressed his excitement about being involved with our movie because he’s such a high-profile figure. His enthusiasm makes me feel like an excited fan!” (co-owned It’s Alive Films with Nikki)

While the film’s set in Nikki’s hometown, “local is global,” he argued. 

Pösö concurred, stating, “The entire globe is teeming with locales where a shared passion unites the community. Whether it’s the most exquisite tomatoes or the greatest footballer, everywhere has its unique attraction. In the Finnish municipality of Sysmä, that special allure is sahti. The topics we’re discussing here are timeless: at times, stepping away is necessary to truly live.

While already acclaimed critically, the team wasn’t expecting to set the box office on fire. 

Nikki quipped, ‘Finnish people aren’t quick to excitement; it took a full decade for others to discover our films and appreciate our wit.’ However, Pösö attributed this success to the clever marketing and distribution strategies of Finnish distributor Nelonen,”

“Nikki humorously stated that Finns aren’t easily excitable, as it took ten years for people to find our movies and understand our humor. Meanwhile, Pösö gave credit to the effective marketing and distribution tactics employed by Finnish distributor Nelonen.

It seems to me that there are at least three key points. Initially, I believe this movie is exceptional, perhaps the best one we’ve produced thus far. Secondly, we’ve been struggling immensely, hitting our heads against a proverbial wall for quite some time. Now, it appears that the obstacle has finally given way.”

“I see at least three significant aspects. Initially, I find this movie outstanding, possibly the best we’ve ever produced. Secondly, we’ve been working tirelessly, hitting our heads against a wall for a long time. Now, it seems that the challenge has finally yielded.”

Both sentences maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m excited to share that the film you’re referring to was a joint production between It’s Alive Films from Helsinki, Finland, collaborating with I Wonder Pictures of Italy and Smile Entertainment from Denmark. Established in 2013, It’s Alive Films has an impressive portfolio under its belt, having produced 8 feature films, 3 television series, and a remarkable 18 short films.

Lehane is repped by Echo Lake Entertainment, CAA and Hansen, Jacobsen Teller.

Read More

2025-05-17 13:46