Excitement surged through the fanbase of the beloved video game *Sleeping Dogs* this week, as Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu announced on Twitter his involvement in bringing the game to the big screen. Liu, renowned for his role as Shang-Chi in *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*, is not only producing the upcoming *Sleeping Dogs* movie but is also set to take on the lead role of Wei Shen.
While Liu's tweet sparked initial excitement, a source close to the project has revealed to IGN that the *Sleeping Dogs* movie is already in active development. IGN has reached out to Square Enix, the game's rights holder, for further comments on the project.
Originally released in 2012 across PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, *Sleeping Dogs* follows the gripping tale of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates a notorious Triad crime syndicate in Hong Kong. Despite failing to meet Square Enix's sales targets, the game has garnered a dedicated fanbase, with hopes for a sequel lingering ever since.
The journey to a *Sleeping Dogs* film has been fraught with challenges. An initial adaptation was announced in 2017, with martial arts star Donnie Yen slated to lead the cast. However, the project vanished from the radar a year later, and Yen recently confirmed to Polygon that it had been abandoned. Yen expressed his deep disappointment and frustration, having invested significant time and personal resources into the project.
Liu's subsequent tweet clarified his ambitious vision for the *Sleeping Dogs* franchise, aiming not only for a movie but also for a sequel to the original game. He highlighted the challenges of pitching the project to executives unfamiliar with the game, and praised the passionate support from fans as a driving force behind the initiative.
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IGN can confirm that Story Kitchen is spearheading the *Sleeping Dogs* live-action feature film. Story Kitchen, known for its work on adaptations such as the *Sonic the Hedgehog* films and Netflix's animated *Tomb Raider* series, is also currently involved in projects like the upcoming *Streets of Rage* adaptation and an adaptation of *It Takes Two* for Amazon.
Last year, Story Kitchen also announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's *Just Cause*, with *Blue Beetle* director Ángel Manuel Soto attached. IGN understands that the *Sleeping Dogs* project has both a writer and a major filmmaker involved, though details on a release date or the start of production remain under wraps.
This movie marks a significant revival for *Sleeping Dogs*, a game whose sequel was canceled in 2013 before production began, and whose original developer, United Front Games, closed down three years later. Now, over a decade later, *Sleeping Dogs* could finally be poised for the cinematic revival it deserves.
