Dredging, the indie adventure game released in 2023 that combined Lovecraftian horror with the ultimate video game activity of fishing, is being developed as a live-action film, producers of the adaptation announced Tuesday. Work with Dredging Developer Black Salt Games will realize the film on behalf of production company Story Kitchen, which was co-founded by Sonic the hedgehog film producer and DJ2 Entertainment founder Dmitri M. Johnson.
Johnson is behind a growing number of video game adaptations, including the upcoming Netflix animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft and projects in development based on Sega’s Streets of Rage, ToeJam & Earl and Hazelight Studios’ It takes two.
Working with Johnson to bring Dredging for live action are Story Kitchen managers Mike Goldberg, Timothy I. Stevenson and Dan Jevons. “Dredging is a captivatingly creepy and deeply rich story that has had us completely hooked from the very beginning,” Story Kitchen’s Johnson, Goldberg, Jevons and Stevenson said in a shared statement.
“We are thrilled to be working with such an experienced studio team to bring the world we have created to live action and ignite the imaginations of audiences around the world,” said Nadia Thorne, Joel Mason, Alex Ritchie and Michael Bastiaens of Black Salt Games.
Dredging casts players as a fisherman exploring a remote archipelago in search of a variety of fish and hidden treasures. Players encounter islanders who give missions and learn about their past as they upgrade their ship, learn new skills, and encounter increasingly unusual sea life.
In our review of DredgingPolygon’s Nicole Carpenter said the game “masterfully balances two different tones”, combining dark horror elements with fun gameplay. Dredging is now available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series