Dmitri M. Johnson

Dmitri M. Johnson
Born (1980-12-11) December 11, 1980
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materChapman University
The Bishop's School
Occupations
EmployerStory Kitchen
AgentWME
Board member ofBAFTA
Websitestory-kitchen.com

Dmitri M. Johnson is an American film producer. He is a co-founder of Story Kitchen (formerly dj2 Entertainment), alongside Michael Lawrence Goldberg.

History

Dmitri M. Johnson (born in San Diego, California) graduated from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production, in 2003.

In the 2000s Johnson started his entertainment career at Gotham Group. In 2011, Johnson pivoted to full-time producing by co-founding dj2 Entertainment (alongside Dan Jevons).[1]

Story Kitchen

In 2022, Johnson co-launched Story Kitchen, an American independent production company focused on adapting videogames, and other 'non-traditional' IPs, into film and television. Story Kitchen currently has a television first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios as well as an animated film first-look deal with DreamWorks Animation.[2][3][4]

In May 2025, Variety's Luminate Film & TV report published "The State of the Video Game & Toy IP Landscape", naming Story Kitchen 3rd in Hollywood (with 11 active adaptations at time of publishing), seated behind Mattel, and LEGO, for the most "Notable Transmedia Prodcos, by Game/Toy".[5]

Filmography

Films

As producer

Television

As executive producer

Panels

  • Games for Change: "Games, Hollywood, and Impact"[20][21]
  • Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi: "Shaping the New Era"[22]
  • Screen Play / London Games[23]
  • SXSW: "Transmedia is Back – But What Comes Next?"[24]
  • XDS External Development Summit: "BAFTA Presents "Franchise Farming" with Story Kitchen — When, How, and with Whom to Grow a Game IP into Film/TV, Animation, and Beyond"[25]

Further reading

  • Naavik Gaming Podcast: How User-Generated Games Are Becoming Hollywood Franchises[26]
  • Entrepreneur's Problem Solvers: "They Turn Video Games Into Movies & TV - Here's How"[27]
  • The Games Business' video interview at Screen Play London Games: "We've never had a better moment to adapt your game to film or TV"[28]
  • NPR interview with Dmitri M. Johnson titled, "How do you take a video game and turn it into a compelling narrative"[29]
  • The Purpose Made Podcast: "Why Game Movies Flop & Story Kitchen's Secret Sauce"[30]

References

  1. ^ "The Low-and-Slow Path to Producing Sonic the Hedgehog | Dmitri M. Johnson of dj2 Entertainment | DH038 - Cali BBQ Media - Digital Content & Media". 2020-06-18.
  2. ^ Kroll, Justin (2024-05-06). "Story Kitchen And DreamWorks Animation Form Strategic Partnership". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  3. ^ Magazine, Animation (2024-05-06). "Story Kitchen Inks First-Look Deal with DreamWorks Animation". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  4. ^ Otterson, Joe (2025-05-16). "'Tomb Raider' Producer Story Kitchen Renews First-Look TV Deal at Amazon MGM Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  5. ^ Eriksen, Kaare (2025-05-01). "State of the Video Game Industry: A Special Report". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  6. ^ Otterson, Joe (2025-01-30). "'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' Live-Action Film in the Works From Story Kitchen, Sandfall Interactive". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  7. ^ Grobar, Matt (2025-11-05). "Story Kitchen Developing Film Adaptation Of Roblox Game 'Grow A Garden'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2026-02-06). "'The Last Of Us' & 'Superman' Star Isabela Merced To Lead Movie Version Of Sega's Video Game Classic 'The House Of The Dead' – EFM". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys (2024-05-29). "'Just Cause' Movie in the Works from 'Blue Beetle' Director Ángel Manuel Soto, 87North". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  10. ^ Kroll, Justin (2025-12-15). "Netflix, Shawn Levy's 21 Laps And Story Kitchen Developing Feature Adaptation Of Video Game 'Kingmakers'; Christopher MacBride Writing". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2024-08-20). "Universal Acquires Rights To Adapt Reikon Videogame 'Ruiner', Wes Ball Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (2025-02-20). "Netflix Boards Feature Adaptation Of Slocap Game 'Sifu' With T.S. Nowlin Writing; Chad Stahelski's 87Eleven Banner Joins Story Kitchen As Producers". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  13. ^ Maas, Jennifer (2025-06-02). "Sydney Sweeney's 'Split Fiction' Movie Lands at Amazon". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  14. ^ Maas, Jennifer (2025-09-19). "Teddy Ruxpin Live-Action Movie in the Works at Amazon MGM Studios From Seven Bucks, Story Kitchen (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  15. ^ Galuppo, Mia (2022-12-05). "'ToeJam & Earl' Movie in the Works From Amazon, Stephen Curry (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  16. ^ Otterson, Joe (2025-09-04). "'Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft' to End With Season 2, December Release Date Set at Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  17. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (2025-11-18). "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Season 2 Exclusive Trailer and Poster". IGN. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  18. ^ Otterson, Joe (2025-09-05). "'Life Is Strange' TV Series Set at Amazon From Charlie Covell, Square Enix, Story Kitchen, and LuckyChap (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-08.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2025-09-03). "'Tomb Raider': Sophie Turner Set As Lara Croft; Chad Hodge Joins Phoebe Waller-Bridge As Co-Showrunner; Amazon Series Heads To Production". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  20. ^ "2025 Games for Change Festival Speakers". festival.gamesforchange.org. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  21. ^ "Schedule". festival.gamesforchange.org. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  22. ^ "TKT.GE". tkt.ge. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  23. ^ "Screen Play". Games London. 2025-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  24. ^ "Dmitri Johnson". SXSW 2025 Schedule. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  25. ^ "TABLE-TOPIC: BAFTA Presents "Franchise Farming" with Story Kitchen — when, how, and with whom to grow a game IP into film/TV, animation, and beyond". External Development Summit (XDS). Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  26. ^ Moore, Kalie (2026-01-06). "How User-Generated Games Are Becoming Hollywood Franchises". Naavik. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  27. ^ "They Turn Video Games Into Movies & TV — Here's How". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  28. ^ Dring, Christopher (2025-04-15). ""We've never had a better moment to adapt your game to film or TV"". The Game Business.
  29. ^ N; P; R (2024-04-11). "How do you take a video game and turn it into a compelling narrative?". NPR. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  30. ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
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