The story of James Howells, a 39-year-old man from the UK who lost a hard drive containing £570 million worth of bitcoin, will become the subject of a documentary film. The American production company LEBUL has acquired exclusive rights to produce his story.

Howells has been trying to recover his hard drive, which he believes is buried at a landfill in Newport, for more than ten years. “I’m excited to finally be able to tell the story in my own words,” he said.

A Costly Mistake

James Howells acquired bitcoin (BTC) in the early days of cryptocurrency. In 2013, his ex-partner accidentally threw away the hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, which ended up at a landfill managed by the Newport City Council.

Last month, a High Court judge dismissed his efforts to access the landfill or claim £495 million in compensation, stating there were “no reasonable grounds” for the case and “no realistic prospect” of success at trial.

Following this, Howells represented himself at the Court of Appeal in London, using artificial intelligence to support his arguments. However, in March, the court rejected his appeal. He is now considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Howells has also expressed interest in buying the landfill after the council announced plans to close it in the 2025–26 fiscal year. The council declined to comment further on the matter.

A Documentary Series and “Treasure Hunt”

According to Howells, about 200 production companies, including BAFTA and Emmy winners, competed for the film rights. “Every man and his dog wanted to film this,” he noted. But until recently, “the timing wasn’t right because of the legal battles.”

Now, as the legal saga winds down, LEBUL, a Los Angeles-based company, has announced plans for a documentary series, podcast, and short-form videos documenting his mission to recover the lost hard drive.

The project, titled “The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells,” will cover the history of bitcoin, Howells’ involvement in crypto, his legal battles, and his high-tech excavation plan, brought to life with extensive CGI.

“The film will follow my live treasure hunt. Even though the court said no, I’m not giving up,” Howells emphasized.

Expectations for the Project

Reese Van Allen, head of LEBUL, said: “This isn’t just content. It’s a live-action tech thriller with nearly a billion dollars at stake — and we’re proud to bring it to the world.” The company said the project had already attracted strong interest from global sponsors, crypto leaders, and major streaming platforms.

Filming is scheduled for summer, with the documentary expected to premiere in October or November. “For the first time, I get to show the world exactly what we plan to do at the landfill,” said Howells. “After watching the film, people won’t think it’s a crazy idea — they’ll see it’s actually achievable.”

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, a virtual or digital currency with no physical form. Bitcoins can be divided into smaller units called satoshis, named after bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto.

In the early 2010s, the investor community was small, known as the Cypherpunks, journalist and CryptoCodex author Billy Bambrough explained. While bitcoin wasn’t the first cryptocurrency, it quickly gained traction among enthusiasts.

Bitcoin’s price began to rise sharply in 2016–2017, then again in 2020 during the pandemic. Prices surged again in late 2024 after Donald Trump’s victory in the US election, as his administration was seen as more crypto-friendly than Biden’s.