Sonic movie producers are psyched about Tomb Raider, a Streets of Rage film.. and a Planet of Lana one?

May 1, 2026 - 13:10

LAS VEGAS -- Sonic The Hedgehog proved to be a big hit at the box office, but producer Dmitri Johnson admits that blue speedster was just the beginning of his plans with Sega. The real prize he wanted to turn into a movie was a different classic franchise entirely.

"Sonic was the gateway drug to get Streets of Rage, and we're finally making that come true," Johnson said during a panel at the inaugural iicon event in Las Vegas.

Johnson co-founded Story Kitchen, a production house focused on turning video games into movies and TV shows. He told an audience of gaming and entertainment executives that the company's approach is simple: they pick projects they personally want to see.

Streets of Rage, the classic side-scrolling brawler series, fits that description perfectly. Johnson revealed that when he first pitched Sega on the Sonic movie years ago, he already had his eye on adapting Streets of Rage. He also made a strong claim about the game's music, calling the second installment's soundtrack the best in video game history.

Johnson hinted that news about the Streets of Rage movie project is coming soon, involving some exciting talent. He stopped short of making an official announcement but promised details are on the way.

Story Kitchen has a long list of other game adaptations in development. Beyond the Sonic movies, the company is working on projects based on Sega's Shinobi and Toejam and Earl. They also have plans for breakout Roblox hits like Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot. Other titles on their slate include Sleeping Dogs, Vampire Survivors, and Sifu.

During the panel, co-founder Mike Goldberg highlighted their recent push to develop a film based on Planet of Lana, the visually striking 2023 side-scrolling game about a girl navigating a world after a robot invasion. The team stressed their commitment to working with writers, directors, and actors who genuinely understand the source material, and they make a point of involving the original game developers in the process.

Of course, in Hollywood, not every announced project actually gets made. But Story Kitchen is clearly betting that gamers want to see more of their favorite franchises on the big screen.