Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu sparked excitement among Sleeping Dogs fans this week when he tweeted about collaborating with rights holders to adapt the beloved video game into a feature film.
It appears the project is even further along than initially suggested. A source close to the production has informed IGN that the Sleeping Dogs movie is currently in development, with Simu Liu—who portrayed Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings—attached to produce and star as Wei Shen.
IGN has reached out to Square Enix for official comment.
Originally launched in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to dismantle Hong Kong's most dangerous Triad syndicate. Despite falling short of Square Enix’s high sales projections, the game gathered a loyal fanbase, with calls for a sequel persisting over the years.
Initial plans for a film adaptation were unveiled back in 2017, with Donnie Yen expected to star. But the project stalled a year later and, just weeks ago, Yen himself confirmed that the film had been shelved.
"I invested significant time and effort into this project, even contributing my own funds to secure script drafts and certain rights," Yen shared with Polygon.
"I waited for years—literally years—and was incredibly passionate about it. I had so many creative ideas, but ultimately... it’s just how things sometimes go in Hollywood. After dedicating so much time, it’s disappointing. Still, I'm moving forward to other promising projects."
Liu’s tweet about working to bring Sleeping Dogs to the screen left some fans puzzled. In a follow-up statement, he amplified interest by expressing his hope to help revive the franchise with not only a film but also a video game sequel.
“Few film pitches ever advance beyond the proposal stage,” Liu noted. “Trying to persuade studio executives unfamiliar with the game has been challenging. The tremendous support from Sleeping Dogs fans has been incredibly motivating.
“Our goal has always been clear: first, a successful movie, then a sequel game for the fans. That’s the vision we’re chasing.”
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Who's Who in the Cast
11 Images
IGN has learned that Story Kitchen is heading up the Sleeping Dogs live-action film project, while Square Enix retains the game rights. Story Kitchen has extensive experience adapting video games, including the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series and Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider show. The studio is also working on adaptations of Streets of Rage and It Takes Two for Amazon.
Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix’s Just Cause, with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto on board. IGN understands that a writer and a major filmmaker are already attached to Sleeping Dogs, though neither a release date nor a production timeline has been set.
The film represents a major comeback for Sleeping Dogs, whose intended sequel was canceled in late 2013 before entering full production. The original developer, United Front Games, closed its doors in 2016. Now, more than ten years later, Sleeping Dogs may finally be getting the revival fans have long awaited.
