Simu Liu Set to Star as Wei Shen in Sleeping Dogs Movie

This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu thrilled fans of the beloved video game Sleeping Dogs by tweeting about his involvement in bringing the game to the big screen. However, it seems the project is even more advanced 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 comment on this exciting development.

Sleeping Dogs originally hit the market in 2012, available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The game follows the gripping narrative of detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to infiltrate one of Hong Kong's notorious Triad crime syndicates. Although it didn't meet Square Enix's high sales expectations, the game has garnered a dedicated fanbase, sparking ongoing interest in a sequel.

An earlier attempt to adapt Sleeping Dogs into a film was announced in 2017, with Donnie Yen set to star. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned a year later. Yen shared his disappointment with Polygon, stating, "I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and some of the rights. I waited for years. Years. And I really want to do it. I have all these visions in my head, and unfortunately… I don’t know, you know how Hollywood goes, right? I spent many, many years on it. It was an unfortunate thing. Well, on to better things."

Liu's tweet initially caused confusion among fans, but he clarified his intentions in a follow-up statement, expressing his commitment to not only the film but also a potential sequel to the Sleeping Dogs video game. He said, "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 has learned that Story Kitchen, a company experienced in video game adaptations, is leading the charge on the Sleeping Dogs live-action feature film. They have previously worked on projects like the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider series. Currently, they are also developing adaptations of Streets of Rage and It Takes Two for Amazon. Last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto attached.

According to IGN's sources, the Sleeping Dogs project has a writer and a major filmmaker involved, although no release date or production start date has been announced yet. This movie represents a significant revival for Sleeping Dogs, which saw its video game sequel canceled in late 2013 and its developer, United Front Games, shut down in 2016. Now, more than a decade later, Sleeping Dogs might finally be getting the wake-up call it deserves.