Dmitri M. Johnson
American film producer (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dmitri M. Johnson is an American film producer. He is a co-founder of Story Kitchen (formerly dj2 Entertainment), alongside Michael Lawrence Goldberg.
Dmitri M. Johnson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | December 11, 1980 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Chapman University The Bishop's School |
| Occupations | |
| Employer | Story Kitchen |
| Agent | WME |
| Board member of | BAFTA |
| Website | story-kitchen |
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
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (TBA)[6]
- Grow a Garden (TBA)[7]
- The House of the Dead (TBA)[8]
- Just Cause (TBA)[9]
- Kingmakers (TBA)[10]
- Ruiner (TBA)[11]
- Sifu (TBA)[12]
- Split Fiction (TBA)[13]
- Teddy Ruxpin (TBA)[14]
- ToeJam & Earl (TBA)[15]
Television
As executive producer
- Rival Peak (2020)
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024–25)[16][17]
- Life is Strange (TBA)[18]
- Tomb Raider (TBA)[19]
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]