Rabbit execs take majority ownership

Mobile 1.0 – The Story of Nokia

Rabbit Films CEO Olli Suominen and creative director Tuomas Summanen have become major shareholders in the Finnish indie after leading a partial management buy-out from its founders.

Rabbit was founded in 2001 by The Dudesons, a prank and stunt group comprising Jarno Laasala, Jukka Hildén, Jarppi Leppälä and HP Parviainen, who will stay on as minority shareholders.

It made its name in producing unscripted entertainment shows but in recent years has expanded to drama series and films.

While most of Rabbit’s productions are self-developed (Over the Atlantic, Posse and City vs Country), the company also produces local versions of international formats like Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Shark Tank and Saturday Night Live.

The company recently moved into large-scale scripted productions with Summer of Sorrow for Elisa and Mobile 1.0 – The Story of Nokia for MTV3/C More.

Laasala said: “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.”