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).
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.
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".
Filmography Films As producer Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Television As executive producer Rival Peak (2020) Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024–25) Life Is Strange (TBA) Tomb Raider (TBA)
Panels Games for Change: "Games, Hollywood, and Impact" Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi: "Shaping the New Era" Screen Play / London Games SXSW: "Transmedia is Back – But What Comes Next?" 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"
Further reading NY Times: As Hollywood Courts Gamers, They Warn: ‘Don’t Ruin This’ Naavik Gaming Podcast: How User-Generated Games Are Becoming Hollywood Franchises Entrepreneur's Problem Solvers: "They Turn Video Games Into Movies & TV - Here's How" 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" NPR interview with Dmitri M. Johnson titled, "How do you take a video game and turn it into a compelling narrative" The Purpose Made Podcast: "Why Game Movies Flop & Story Kitchen's Secret Sauce"
References