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. However, the project is further along than initially revealed. Sources close to the production tell IGN that the Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in development, with Liu—known for his role as Shang-Chi—set to star as Wei Shen and serve as a producer. IGN has reached out to Square Enix for comment.
Initially 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 not meeting 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, was ultimately scrapped a year later. Yen recently confirmed this to Polygon, citing years of invested time and resources. Liu's tweet, therefore, caused some initial confusion. He later clarified his intentions, expressing a desire to help develop both a film and a Sleeping Dogs sequel game. He noted the challenges of pitching the project to executives unfamiliar with the game.
"So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight," Liu stated. "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 confirm that Story Kitchen is leading 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 such as the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix's Tomb Raider series. They are also currently developing adaptations of Streets of Rage and It Takes Two. Last year, Story Kitchen announced a Just Cause film adaptation with Ángel Manuel Soto directing. While a writer and major filmmaker are attached to the Sleeping Dogs project, a release date and production start remain unannounced.
This film represents a significant resurgence for Sleeping Dogs, whose sequel was canceled in late 2013 before entering production, and its original developer, United Front Games, closed three years later. Over a decade later, Sleeping Dogs is poised for a comeback.
