Sleeping Dogs Movie Casts Simu Liu as Wei Shen

This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu got fans of the game Sleeping Dogs excited with a tweet revealing he is collaborating with the rights holders to bring the beloved video game to the big screen.

It turns out the project is further along than initially thought. A source close to the production has told IGN that a Sleeping Dogs film is officially in development, and we understand that Simu Liu — known for playing Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings — is both producing and set to star as the protagonist, Wei Shen.

IGN has reached out to Square Enix for comment.

Sleeping Dogs first launched in 2012 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The game follows undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s most dangerous Triad organizations. Although it didn’t meet Square Enix’s initial sales expectations, it gained a devoted following, with fans hoping for a sequel ever since.

The movie adaptation was first announced in 2017 with Donnie Yen attached to star, but the project went quiet a year later and was recently confirmed by Yen himself to have been dropped.

“I invested significant time and personal funds working with producers and securing rights and script drafts,” Yen explained to Polygon.

“I waited for years, fully committed, with a clear creative vision — but ultimately, Hollywood moves in its own way. It’s unfortunate, but we move forward to new opportunities.”

When Liu tweeted about trying to get the Sleeping Dogs movie made, it initially created some confusion among fans. Liu later followed up with another statement that fueled excitement and even hinted at plans to help revive the game franchise.

“Very few film pitches ever get the green light,” he said. “It’s been challenging pitching to executives unfamiliar with the game. The overwhelming support from Sleeping Dogs fans has been incredibly motivating.

“Our goal has always been clear: first a movie, then a sequel to the game for all the fans.”

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IGN has learned that Story Kitchen is spearheading the live-action Sleeping Dogs film project, with Square Enix as the rights holder. Story Kitchen has a strong track record adapting video games, having been involved in projects ranging from the Sonic the Hedgehog movies to Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider series. They are also currently developing an adaptation of Streets of Rage and the cooperative game It Takes Two for Amazon.

Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix’s Just Cause, with Ángel Manuel Soto, director of Blue Beetle, attached to helm. IGN understands that the Sleeping Dogs project already has a writer and a major filmmaker on board, though no release date or production start has been confirmed at this stage.

The film represents a major resurgence for Sleeping Dogs, whose planned video game sequel was canceled in late 2013 before entering full production. The original developer, United Front Games, closed its doors three years later. Now, more than a decade after its release, Sleeping Dogs may finally get its long-awaited revival.