Rabbit Films reorganizes - shoots Summer of Sorrow and Mobile 1.0

Founded in 2001 by stunts and pranks crew ‘The Dudesons’, namely Jarno Laasala, Jukka Hildén, Jarppi Leppälä and HP Parviainen, the company will continue to produce high-quality content under the aegis of Suominen and Summaren who have led a partial management buy-out.

“Suominen and Summanen have together successfully led Rabbit Films for several years, and now is the perfect time to secure the company’s growth strategy by further increasing their ownership,” said the company’s founder, Jarno Laasala who remains stakeholder, with his ‘Dudesons’ associates.

Rabbit Films has recently moved into large-scale scripted content, after establishing its name in the non-scripted space.

Two major series are currently filming.

• Summer of Sorrow commissioned by Elisa Viihde is written/directed by Jani Volanen.
  The 10-part series is set in the 1980s. The disappearance of a child from the idyllic Helsinki suburb of Munkkivuori forces the adults to take justice into their own hands, with tragic consequences. “The series is told through the eyes of a group of kids from the neighbourhood who try to figure out what happened,” said Suominen who serves as producer, together with Rabbit Films’ Head of Scripted Minna Haapkylä.
  
  Viljami Loponen (13) plays the title role of Mirko, who moves with his family to his mother’s birthplace at the beginning of the summer. Adult roles take in Joanna Haartti (The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki), Eero Milonoff, (Border) Joonas Saartamo (Rebecka Martinsson), Sampo Sarkola (Peacemaker) and Anna-Maija Tuokko (Bordetown).
  
  The series is produced in collaboration with Business Finland, the Finnish Film Foundation and Nelonen. The premiere on Elisa Viihde is set for the fall 2022. Keshet International handles global sales.

• Mobile 1.0 ordered by C More/MTV3, chronicles the rise of the Nokia mobile phones. Creator Maarit Lalli is directing. Rising talents Satu Tuuli Karhu and Emi Kijlström are cast as two young lawyers sent to fight for Nokia’s future against Motorola in the US. Co-stars include Sampo Sarkola, Aku Sipola and Oona Airola.
  The series was co-produced by Aurora Studios, with backing from its Finnish Impact Film Fund, Business Finland, the West Finland Film Commission and Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The premiere is set for 2022.

Also on Rabbit Films’ slate is the feature film Bubble by Aleksi Salmenperä starring Tommi Korpela, Minna Haapkylä, Eedit Patrakka, Anna-Maija Tuokko. The theatrical release via Aurora Distribution is set for later this year.