Simu Liu to Star as Wei Shen in Sleeping Dogs Movie

This week, fans of the video game Sleeping Dogs were thrilled when Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu announced via Twitter that he's collaborating with the rights holders to bring the beloved game to the big screen. However, the project is further along than initially suggested. A source close to the development has revealed to IGN that a Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in the works, with Liu not only producing but also set to star as the lead character, Wei Shen. IGN has reached out to Square Enix for further comments on this exciting development.

Originally released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows the gripping story of detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to infiltrate a notorious Triad crime syndicate in Hong Kong. Despite not meeting Square Enix's sales expectations, the game has garnered a dedicated fanbase and hopes for a sequel have persisted.

The journey to the screen hasn't been smooth. An earlier adaptation was announced in 2017, with Donnie Yen set to star, but it fizzled out a year later. Yen recently confirmed to Polygon that the project had been scrapped, expressing his disappointment and dedication to the vision he had for the film.

Simu Liu's tweet sparked some confusion among fans, but he clarified his intentions in a follow-up statement. He revealed his ambition to not only bring the Sleeping Dogs movie to life but also to help develop a sequel game. Liu stated, "So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight. 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, known for their work on video game adaptations such as the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider series, is leading the Sleeping Dogs live-action feature film project. Square Enix remains the rights holder, and Story Kitchen is also working on other adaptations like Streets of Rage and It Takes Two for Amazon.

Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto of Blue Beetle fame. While Sleeping Dogs has a writer and a major filmmaker attached, no release date or production start date has been announced yet.

The revival of Sleeping Dogs through this movie adaptation is a significant moment, especially considering the cancellation of its video game sequel in late 2013 and the closure of its original developer, United Front Games, three years later. Now, over a decade since its initial release, Sleeping Dogs could finally be set for the cinematic wake-up call it deserves.