Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu recently ignited excitement among Sleeping Dogs fans with a tweet announcing his involvement in bringing the beloved video game to the big screen. But it turns out, the project is even further along than initially revealed. A source close to the production confirms to IGN that a Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in development, with Liu, known for his role as Shang-Chi, set to produce and star as Wei Shen.
IGN has reached out to Square Enix for comment.
Originally released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates a Hong Kong Triad syndicate. Despite failing to meet Square Enix's sales expectations, the game garnered a dedicated fanbase, fueling persistent calls for a sequel.
A previous adaptation, announced in 2017 with Donnie Yen attached to star, was ultimately scrapped a year later. Yen recently confirmed this to Polygon, stating, “I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and some of the rights… I waited for years. Years. And I really want to do it. I have all these visions in my head, and unfortunately… I don’t know, you know how Hollywood goes, right? I spent many, many years on it. It was an unfortunate thing. Well, on to better things.”
Liu's tweet, therefore, caused some initial confusion. He later clarified his involvement, expressing his ambition to not only produce the film but also contribute to a potential Sleeping Dogs video game sequel: “So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight,” he said. “Pitching execs who don’t understand the game has been tiring. Everyone’s overwhelming love of Sleeping Dogs here has really given us life! First a movie, then a sequel game for everyone… that’s always been the dream.”
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IGN can reveal that Story Kitchen is spearheading the Sleeping Dogs live-action film, with Square Enix holding the rights. Story Kitchen has a proven track record in video game adaptations, having worked on projects ranging from the *Sonic the Hedgehog* films to Netflix's animated *Tomb Raider* series. They are also currently developing adaptations of *Streets of Rage* and *It Takes Two* for Amazon. Last year, they announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's *Just Cause*, with *Blue Beetle* director Ángel Manuel Soto on board. While a writer and a major filmmaker are attached to the Sleeping Dogs project, IGN understands there is no release date or production start date yet.
This movie represents a significant resurgence for Sleeping Dogs, whose sequel was canceled in late 2013 before production, and whose original developer, United Front Games, closed three years later. Over a decade later, Sleeping Dogs may finally be getting a second chance.
