London’s long-standing quest for hard drives, including $800 million in Bitcoin hidden somewhere in a Wales landfill, is currently licensed in a cross-platform documentary series.
Entertainment company Leval announced this week that it had secured exclusive rights to tell the story of James Howells, a British engineer known for losing access to 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013.
Man’s Lost Hard Drive Holds Cryptographic Destiny Benefits of the King’s Ransom
Howells was one of the early miners for Bitcoin and lost access to 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013 when his hard drive was accidentally destroyed. At current prices, its cryptocurrency storage is worth over $800 million.
The hard drive has become a municipal landfill in Newport, Wales.
“I’m not satisfied with this,” declared Reese Van Allen, Lebul’s unscripted entertainment president. “It’s a live-action tech thriller on the near-billion-dollar crisis.”
The documentary initiative, “Burned Bitcoin: The Reality Treasure Hunting of James Howells,” features high-end series, podcasts and social media pushes. Lebul intends to combine aspects of environmental conflict, cryptocurrency history, and personal resolve within the story.
Legal battle with local councils
Howells has taken Newport City Council to court several times over the past decade. He was asked for permission to excavate the landfill and even proposed splitting the money recovered in both the city and the residents. Once, he sought compensation from local officials in £495 million.
He has lost his protests in court multiple times, citing concerns over land laws as well as environmental damage. According to reports, he was recently defeated in 2025 at Cardiff High Court.
The council will close the dump between 2025 and 2026, with some of it being built as solar farms, making it a more pressing need.
Engineers refuse to abandon search
Despite the sustained setback, Howells is determined to restore his lost fortune. As reported, he is pondering his appeal to the Supreme Court. He also speculates that he might try to buy the entire landfill to access the location.
“While the Howells story is sometimes likened to modern treasure hunts, we will find a way for more people as Lebul transforms discarded e-Waste into entertainment,” one report on the new series states.
Entertainment projects generate great interest
The documentary series has already peaked the interest of global streaming channels eager to distribute content. Some cryptocurrency companies have also expressed interest in sponsoring projects, Lebul said.
Lebul executives believe the fusion of real drama, important financial interests and real-time development will make the series appealing to both cryptocurrency fans and general audiences unfamiliar with Bitcoin’s early days.
The company has not yet announced the release date for the project’s components.
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