‘Lajna’ Heads to the Big Screen: Jiří Langmajer to Return as Coach Hrouzek

The popular Czech hockey series Lajna is making the leap to the big screen, with filming set to begin in May. Jiří Langmajer will reprise his role as the iconic coach Luboš Hrouzek, alongside Hana Vagnerová as his girlfriend Deniska.

From Series to Silver Screen

The film, a co-production between DS10 Entertainment and Televize Seznam, continues the story established in the three successful seasons of Lajna, which aired from 2017 to 2021. Seznam Zprávy reported the announcement on Tuesday.

Creative Team Returns

Vladimír Skórka, who directed all three seasons of the series, will also helm the film. Petr Kolečko has once again penned the screenplay. The production team aims to maintain the spirit of the series while adapting it for a cinematic experience.

A Different Style of ‘Lajna’

Skórka notes the film will differ from the series in its structure, featuring a clear beginning, development, and resolution. He also highlighted the necessitate to adjust the filming style, moving away from the “hectic” camera work characteristic of the television show. “The style of Lajna is special, the filming is so hectic, there is a lot of twisting of the cameras, which is not possible in the film,” Skórka explained. Discussions are underway to determine how to translate the series’ energy to the big screen.

Novel Challenges for Coach Hrouzek

The film’s plot centers around Coach Hrouzek facing his greatest professional challenge yet – a dispute with other coaches over the direction of the team. New characters, including additional coaches, will be introduced alongside familiar faces. Skórka hinted that Hrouzek will be forced to confront difficult decisions. “In that film, Hrouzek faces probably the biggest challenge and will have to accept things that he thought he would never accept in life,” he stated.

Filming Locations and Budget

The production team completed a three-day pre-shoot in Milan during the Winter Olympics in February 2026, aiming to capture the atmosphere of the games. Mediar.cz reports the film has a budget between 35 and 40 million Czech crowns. Principal photography is scheduled for July, and August.

Production Details

The film is a co-production of DS10 Entertainment and Seznam.cz. Jiří Burian, also known as Captain Demo, will compose the music. Key partners include Tipsport, Kaufland, and Visa, with Bioscop handling distribution.

Origins of ‘Lajna’

The original Lajna series premiered in 2017, produced by Obbod TV. Subsequent seasons were produced by Televize Seznam and, later, a collaboration between Seznam and TV JOJ. Wikipedia notes the series gained popularity, with the first season winning the Serial Killer award for best online series. The series stars Jiří Langmajer as Luboš Hrouzek, Hana Vagnerová as Deniska Kovářová, Václav Neužil as Robin Guha, Zdeněk Piškula as Patrik Hrouzek, and Norbert Lichý as Zbyňa Tichý. Kinobox.cz

The film is slated for release on December 31, 2026.