This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu thrilled fans of the cult classic video game Sleeping Dogs by announcing via Twitter that he's collaborating with the rights holders to adapt the game into a cinematic experience. Excitement escalated when a source close to the project confirmed to IGN that the Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in development, with Liu not only producing but also set to star as the lead character, Wei Shen.
IGN reached out to Square Enix for further comment on this exciting development.
Originally launched in 2012 across PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC platforms, Sleeping Dogs immerses players in the life of undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates a notorious Triad crime syndicate in Hong Kong. Despite not meeting the high sales targets set by its publisher, Square Enix, the game has garnered a dedicated following, fueling hopes for a sequel.
Sleeping Dogs is poised for a cinematic revival. Image credit: Square Enix.
An earlier attempt to bring Sleeping Dogs to the big screen was announced back in 2017, with Donnie Yen attached to star. Unfortunately, the project vanished from the radar a year later and was officially confirmed as canceled by Yen himself just weeks ago. Yen shared his disappointment with Polygon, highlighting his significant investment of time and resources into the project, which unfortunately did not come to fruition.
In light of Liu's announcement, fans experienced a mix of excitement and confusion. Liu further clarified his intentions, emphasizing his commitment to not only the film adaptation but also to reviving the Sleeping Dogs video game franchise with a sequel.
"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 spearheading the Sleeping Dogs live-action film project, with Square Enix holding the rights. Story Kitchen, known for its successful video game adaptations such as the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix's animated Tomb Raider series, is currently engaged in other projects, including the upcoming Streets of Rage adaptation and an adaptation of It Takes Two for Amazon.
Additionally, Story Kitchen last year announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto of Blue Beetle fame. IGN has learned that the Sleeping Dogs project has a writer and a major filmmaker on board, though no release date or start of production details have been disclosed yet.
The upcoming movie represents a significant revival for Sleeping Dogs, especially after its planned video game sequel was canceled in late 2013 and its original developer, United Front Games, closed down three years later. Now, more than a decade on, Sleeping Dogs might finally be set for its long-awaited wake-up call.
