Story Kitchen

Last updated
Story Kitchen
Company type Private
Industry
FoundedOctober 2022;2 years ago (2022-10)
Founder
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Dmitri M. Johnson
  • Mike Goldberg
  • Timothy I. Stevenson
  • Elena Sandoval
Services
Website story-kitchen.com

Story Kitchen (formerly dj2 Entertainment) is an American independent production company that specializes in adapting video games into films and television series. It was founded in October 2022 by producers Dmitri M. Johnson and Mike Goldberg. Timothy I. Stevenson moved from dj2 to Story Kitchen for a senior role. [1] Elena Sandoval joined shortly thereafter, and promoted to creative executive in 2025. [2]

Contents

History

Dmitri M. Johnson's prior production company, dj2 Entertainment, was launched in 2012 and was the first production company to exclusively focus on video game adaptations. They sold their first project, entitled Hawken , to Warner Bros with Scott Waugh attached to direct. [3] [4] [5] Following Hawken, Johnson traveled to Japan to meet with SEGA which ultimately led to SEGA's leadership, pointed by Toru Nakahara, unlocking SEGA's marquee Sonic the Hedgehog game franchise for a feature film adaptation. [6]

SEGA/Paramount Pictures' Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is dated for March 19, 2027. [7]

Prior to Story Kitchen, Mike Goldberg was dj2 Entertainment's agent, having signed dj2 Entertainment in 2017 for film and television representation. Previous to co-launching Story Kitchen, in addition to representing dj2 Entertainment, Goldberg also represented and closed dozens of video game adaptation deals and was subsequently named by Variety as one of Hollywood's New Leaders in their 2020 report. [8]

Upon launch, Johnson reassigned dj2 Entertainment's 2022 television first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios as well as dj2 entertainment's 2020 television second-look deal with Legendary Television (which was formerly a television first-look deal) to Story Kitchen, for television executive producing. [9] [10] [11]

Overview

Story Kitchen (formerly dj2 Entertainment) is an American independent production company focused on adapting video games, 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. [12] [13]

In 2024, Story Kitchen renewed their first-look television deal with Amazon MGM Studios (until 2028). [14]

As of 2025, video game IP (intellectual property) has become one of the most sought after categories for Hollywood to adapt, and Story Kitchen is considered a leader in the game adaption space. [15] [16]

Tomb Raider

In 2021, and originating from Dmitri M. Johnson's television first-look deal with Legendary Television, Netflix announced a straight-to-two-season order for an anime television adaptation of Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider , entitled Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. [17]

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft premiered October 10, 2024, with a second season (re)announced October 25, 2024. [18]

In 2024, the live-action television adaptation of Tomb Raider was officially announced, with the game IP being brought in through Story Kitchen's Amazon MGM Studios television first-look deal. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is adapting/showrunning with production being greenlit upon announcement. [19]

Films

TitleDirectorWriterRightsholderDistributorNotes
It Takes Two [20] TBA Pat Casey & Josh Miller Hazelight Studios Amazon MGM Studios Co-production with Seven Bucks
ToeJam & Earl [21] TBAAmos Vernon & Nunzio Randazzo SEGA Co-production with Unanimous Media
Split Fiction [22] Jon M. Chu Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick Hazelight Studios Co-production with Electric Somewhere, Sydney Sweeney attached to star
Streets of Rage [23] TBATBA SEGA Lionsgate Co-production with Escape Artists
Sifu [24] TBA T.S. Nowlin Sloclap Netflix Co-production with 87Eleven
Just Cause [25] Ángel Manuel Soto Aaron Rabin Square Enix Universal Co-production with 87North
Shinobi [26] Sam Hargrave Ken Kobayashi SEGA Co-production with Marc Platt Productions
Ruiner [27] Wes Ball Michael Arlen Ross Reikon Co-production with OddBall and 87North
Toys "R" Us [28] TBATBA Toys "R" Us TBATBA

Television series

TitleWriter/ShowrunnerNetworkStudioRightsholder
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Tasha Huo Netflix Legendary Crystal Dynamics
Tomb Raider Phoebe Waller-Bridge Amazon Prime Video Amazon MGM Studios
Life is Strange Charlie Covell Don't Nod

References

  1. ↑ Kroll, Justin (2022-10-07). "Derek Kolstad, Dmitri M. Johnson & Former APA Agent Mike Goldberg Launch Media Company Story Kitchen". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  2. ↑ "'Tomb Raider' Producer Story Kitchen Renews First-Look TV Deal at Amazon MGM Studios (Exclusive)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  3. ↑ Writer, Ben Strauss Staff (2012-07-13). "Warner Bros to develop web series on upcoming mech-shooter Hawken". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  4. ↑ Gaudiosi, John (2012-08-01). "Director Scott Waugh on Adapting 'Hawken' Video Game for the Big Screen (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  5. ↑ Gaudiosi, John (2012-07-13). "Hawken Gets a Movie and Live-Action Web Series". IGN. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  6. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (2025-04-13). "The era of the bad video game movie is over, if Hollywood lets these guys do their job". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  7. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2025-01-21). "'Sonic The Hedgehog 4' Coming To Theaters In Spring 2027". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  8. ↑ Willman, Diane Garrett,Thomas K. Arnold,Jem Aswad,Andrew Barker,Jon Burlingame,Shalini Dore,LaTesha Harris,Paula Hendrickson,Carole Horst,Todd Longwell,Jenelle Riley,Ellise Shafer,Jazz Tangcay,Danielle Turchiano,Chris (2020-09-23). "Hollywood's New Leaders 2020". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2022-04-20). "Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions Boards 'It Takes Two' As Video Game Film Lands At Amazon". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  10. ↑ Rosario, Alexandra Del (2022-02-17). "Dmitri M. Johnson's dj2 Entertainment To Adapt Video Games For TV Under First-Look Deal With Amazon Studios". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  11. ↑ Petski, Denise (2020-03-05). "Legendary Television Inks First-Look Deal With dj2 Entertainment; Sets Projects With Ed Ricourt, Thor Freudenthal & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  12. ↑ Kroll, Justin (2024-05-06). "Story Kitchen And DreamWorks Animation Form Strategic Partnership". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  13. ↑ Magazine, Animation (2024-05-06). "Story Kitchen Inks First-Look Deal with DreamWorks Animation". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Dring, Christopher (2025-08-28). ""We've never had a better moment to adapt your game to film or TV"". www.thegamebusiness.com. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  16. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (2025-04-13). "The era of the bad video game movie is over, if Hollywood lets these guys do their job". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  17. ↑ Couch, Aaron (2021-01-27). "Netflix Orders 'Skull Island,' 'Tomb Raider' Anime Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  18. ↑ Petski, Denise (2024-10-25). "'Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft' Renewed For Season 2 By Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  19. ↑ White, Peter (2024-05-14). "'Tomb Raider' From Phoebe Waller-Bridge Lands Series Order At Amazon". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  20. ↑ Otterson, Joe (2022-04-20). "'It Takes Two' Movie Lands at Amazon, Seven Bucks Productions Joins dj2 Entertainment as Producers (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  21. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (2022-12-05). "'ToeJam & Earl' Movie in the Works From Amazon, Stephen Curry (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  22. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2025-06-02). "Amazon MGM Studios In Talks To Acquire Hot Video Game Package 'Split Fiction' Teaming Jon M. Chu & Sydney Sweeney". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  23. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-11-16). "'Streets Of Rage': Lionsgate Picks Up Feature Take Of Sega Videogame From 'John Wick's Derek Kolstad". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  24. ↑ 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 2025-08-31.
  25. ↑ Kit, Borys (2024-05-29). "'Just Cause' Movie in the Works from 'Blue Beetle' Director Ángel Manuel Soto, 87North". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  26. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2024-10-08). "Universal Powering Up Sega Video Game 'Shinobi' Into Movie With Sam Hargrave At The Helm". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  27. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2024-08-20). "Universal Acquires Rights To Adapt Reikon Videogame 'Ruiner', Wes Ball Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  28. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (April 22, 2025). "Toys 'R' Us Live-Action Movie in the Works With Story Kitchen (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved September 5, 2025.
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