If you tell me you don’t know the name Story Kitchen, I won’t criticize you. Founded only in 2022, this production company has not yet gained much prominence in the world of films and series, but judging by the number of projects in the pipeline and a partnership with DreamWorks, it is likely that a lot will still be said about it.
Credit: Disclosure/Story Kitchen/Paramount Pictures
Described on its website as a “dynamic media company passionate about world-building and franchise architecture,” the company is not afraid to portray itself as a specialist in “non-traditional” film/TV adaptations of video games and intellectual properties. But after all, where does so much security come from?
Well, Story Kitchen was created by Dmitri M. Johnson, a producer whose main work in this area was the Sonic: The Movie It is Sonic 2: The Movie. Alongside some partners, the guy decided that it was worth investing in the creation of more films and series based on famous gaming brands and although we still don’t have the results of this investment, the future looks quite promising.
The biggest indication of this was given by the website Deadline, which revealed an agreement reached between the producer and DreamWorks. Even though a project for this partnership has not been announced, the animation studio founded by Steven Spielberg and owned by Universal has a long history of successes (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon) and will be able to take Story Kitchen to a much higher level.
“We are incredibly excited to work with DreamWorks Animation as our first official theatrical partner since the launch of SK in 2022,” the production company said in a press release.
Credit: Disclosure/Hazelight
As for what could emerge from this partnership, the possibilities are many. Today, Story Kitchen owns the rights to more than a dozen intellectual properties born from video games and here is a summary of each project in which the company is involved:
- 3 out of 10 – Developed by Terrible Posture Games, it is touted as the first playable sitcom and in it we will be part of Shovelworks Studios, a company described as the worst game development studio in the world. Still no platform for display.
- Disco Elysium – As in the game, detectives Harrier Du Bois and Kim Kitsuragi will have to solve the murder of a hanged man, in addition to solving several other problems. The series will appear on Amazon’s streaming service.
- Dredge – Although it may seem like a simple fishing game, in it the protagonist will move to Greater Marrow, a coastal city where the supernatural is always present. If done correctly, this live-action film could make a good cliffhanger story.
- It Takes Two – Cody and May are a couple who are mysteriously transformed into dolls and now, trapped in a fantastic world, they need to cooperate to overcome the problems of a broken relationship. The adaptation will be shown on Amazon Prime Videos.
- Life is Strange – The acclaimed Dontnod Entertainment franchise has everything it needs to become a huge success when its series arrives on Prime Videos. As it has a narrative structure so similar to that of a series, those involved should not have many difficulties in making this change of media.
- My Friend Pedro – “A violent ballet about friendship, imagination, and one man’s struggle to destroy anyone in his path at the behest of a sentient banana.” Sound crazy? In addition to the addictive gameplay, the premise of the Devolver Digital game is its main feature. The script will be by Derek Kolstad, creator of the franchise John Wick and we still don’t know where the series will be shown.
- Sifu – Set in modern China, the son of a martial arts master seeks revenge for the death of his father. The detail is that each time he is defeated, the protagonist revives stronger, but aged. It remains to be seen how the concept of a rogue-like will be transformed into the film that will be directed by Derek Kolstad.
Credit: Sloclap/Hazelight
- Sleeping Dog – O “GTA in Hong Kong” developed by United Front Games won many admirers when it was released, back in 2012, and hopefully, one day we will know how this live-action adaptation starring Donnie Yen (The great master, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, John Wick 4: Baba Yaga).
- Slimer Rancher – A young explorer will need to deal with several difficulties after making an unexplored planet her new home. Among them is living with conscious jellies, in what we don’t yet know if it will be an animated or live-action film.
- Streets of Rage – Produced in partnership with Lionsgate, in this film we will see an FBI agent transporting a witness who promises to betray the scheme involving the mayor of Wood Oak City and a local crime boss. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m afraid of what will come of this.
- ToeJam & Earl – The coolest aliens of the 16-bit generation are back, this time as a film that will be available on Amazon Prime Videos. The franchise’s co-creators, Greg Johnson and Mark Voorsanger, serve as executive producers of the adaptation.
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Animated series that will be shown on Netflix and will feature Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Mission: Impossible – Reckoning Part One) voicing the treasure hunter.
- Vampire Survivor – After conquering a legion of fans with its simple but extremely addictive gameplay, Luca Galante’s creation will have the opportunity to reach a much larger audience, but as an animated TV series.
Credit: Disclosure/Poncle
It may seem like Story Kitchen is firing on all cylinders (and perhaps it is), but with game and film adaptations proving so lucrative in recent years, it’s no surprise that companies are trying to secure as many intellectual properties as possible. .
Unfortunately, it is possible that several of these adaptations do not come close to the level of quality presented by a series Fallout or The Last of Us, which will invariably arouse the anger of fans who are not well served. Even so, several of these projects have already caught my attention and I hope that the people at Story Kitchen and the studios involved can do a good job.
