Simu Liu to Star as Wei Shen in Sleeping Dogs Movie

If you're a fan of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and video games, you'll be thrilled to hear that actor Simu Liu has reignited excitement for the beloved Sleeping Dogs franchise. Recently taking to Twitter, Liu teased that he was collaborating with the rights holders to bring the critically acclaimed game to the silver screen. Little did fans know, the project was already more advanced than initially anticipated.

According to a reliable source speaking to IGN, the Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in active development, with Simu Liu—best known for his role as Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings—set to produce and star as Wei Shen, the game's protagonist. IGN reached out to Square Enix for further comments but has yet to receive a response.

Originally released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows the story of detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to infiltrate one of Hong Kong's infamous Triad crime syndicates. Despite its lukewarm sales performance, the game has garnered a passionate following and has seen numerous calls for a sequel ever since its release.

Sleeping Dogs is poised for a comeback with its movie adaptation. Image credit: Square Enix.

The initial adaptation announcement came in 2017 with martial arts legend Donnie Yen slated to star, but the project vanished a year later. In a recent interview with Polygon, Yen confirmed the scrapped plans, expressing frustration over the lengthy process and Hollywood's challenges.

When Simu Liu took to social media to announce his involvement, fans were intrigued but confused. His follow-up statement clarified his intentions, revealing not only his commitment to the film but also his desire to bring a sequel game to fruition.

“It’s so rare for film projects to progress from pitch to greenlight,” Liu noted. “Pitching executives unfamiliar with the game has been exhausting. But the overwhelming love for Sleeping Dogs has given us renewed energy! First, a movie, then a sequel game for everyone—that’s always been the dream.”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Who's Who in the Cast

11 Images

IGN learned that Story Kitchen, a studio with experience adapting video games into live-action features, is spearheading the project. Their past credits include the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s Tomb Raider animated series. They’re also currently working on the Streets of Rage adaptation and an It Takes Two series for Amazon Prime Video.

In addition, last year, Story Kitchen announced their Just Cause adaptation with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto on board. IGN reports that the Sleeping Dogs project now has a writer and a major filmmaker attached, though details about the release date or production timeline remain under wraps.

This marks a pivotal moment for Sleeping Dogs, which faced setbacks when its planned sequel was canceled in 2013 and its original developer, United Front Games, closed three years later. Over a decade later, the franchise is finally waking up to a new chapter.