Dennis Lehane Adapts US Remake of Finnish Hit ‘100 Litres of Gold’

Dennis Lehane’s manufacturing firm Hans Bubby has acquired the English-speaking remake rights for Finnish dramedy “100 Litres of Gold.”

Directed by Teemu Nikki, it offers with a significant issue: there’s nothing to drink and a marriage is across the nook. Sisters Taina and Pirkko promised to brew 100 liters of their well-known self-brewed beer, sahti. Their new batch is so tasty, they drink all of it themselves — the day earlier than the occasion. Now they need to “procure” one other 100 liters by any means needed.

The movie, produced by It’s Alive Movies, premiered in Finland in March 2025, and rapidly grew to become the most- watched home movie of the yr to this point. Nikki’s additionally behind “Euthanizer,” Finland’s Oscar entry in 2018, and Venice-winning “The Blind Man Who Did Not Need to See Titanic.” His brief “All Inclusive” was introduced at Cannes in 2019.  

“It’s hilarious, outrageous and anxious with individuals who reside on the margins. My favourite form of story,” stated Lehane. “I pitched it to my accomplice, Mackenzie Pietzak, just about the day I landed again within the U.S. She fell for it as laborious as I did, and we determined to strive an American remake.”

Beforehand, Lehane wrote the screenplay for the Fox Searchlight function “The Drop,” primarily based on his authentic brief story, and created Apple sequence “Black Fowl” starring Taron Egerton. His new authentic sequence “Smoke” will premiere on Apple TV+ on June 27.

“I bought an e mail from some man referred to as Dennis after I was sightseeing on the colosseum throughout Rome Movie Fest. I replied one thing silly and later realized that this ‘Dennis’ was truly Dennis Lehane. After which I referred to as Jani to verify if I used to be dreaming,” recalled Teemu Nikki.

“It’s improbable {that a} author with such a excessive profile is taken with our movie. I really feel like a fanboy!,” added writer-producer Jani Pösö, who co-owns It’s Alive Movies with Nikki.

Whereas the movie’s set in Nikki’s hometown, “native is international,” he argued. 

Pösö agreed: “The entire world is stuffed with locations the place the group is wrapped round that one factor. The very best tomatoes on this planet, one of the best footballer on this planet. In [Finnish municipality] Sysmä, that’s sahti. The themes we’re dealing with listed here are common: generally you simply have to go away to have the ability to reside.”

Whereas already acclaimed critically, the crew wasn’t anticipating to set the field workplace on fireplace. 

“We Finns don’t get excited simply. It took them ten years to seek out our movies and luxuriate in our humor,” joked Nikki, whereas Pösö credited advertising and marketing and distribution technique by Finnish distributor Nelonen.

“I feel there’s no less than three issues. Firstly, the movie is de facto good, perhaps one of the best we’ve made to this point. Secondly, we’ve been smashing our heads towards the wall for a very long time — now, the wall has lastly surrendered.” 

It’s Alive Movies produced with I Marvel Photos from Italy and Smile Leisure from Denmark. A Helsinki-based manufacturing firm, It’s Alive Movies, based in 2013, has produced 8 function movies, 3 TV-series and 18 brief movies.

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