Exciting news for fans of the beloved video game Sleeping Dogs! Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu, known for his role as Shang-Chi in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," has sparked enthusiasm by tweeting about his efforts to bring the game to the big screen. However, developments have moved further along than initially suggested. A reliable source has informed 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 development.
Originally released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows the gripping story of detective Wei Shen, who goes undercover to infiltrate a notorious Triad crime syndicate in Hong Kong. Although it did not meet Square Enix's sales expectations, the game has garnered a passionate fan base and sparked hopes for a sequel.
The journey to a Sleeping Dogs adaptation has been tumultuous. An initial announcement in 2017 featured Donnie Yen set to star, but the project fell through a year later. Yen recently confirmed to Polygon that the film had been scrapped after years of his personal investment and effort. Despite this setback, Liu's recent tweets have reignited hope, with the actor expressing his commitment not only to the film but also to the possibility of reviving a sequel game.
Liu elaborated on the challenges of pitching the project to executives unfamiliar with the game, emphasizing the supportive role of the fan community in keeping the project alive. "So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight," he said. "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 revealed that Story Kitchen, a company experienced in video game adaptations, is leading the Sleeping Dogs live-action feature film project, with Square Enix as the rights holder. Story Kitchen's portfolio includes the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix's animated Tomb Raider series. They are also currently working on adaptations of Streets of Rage and It Takes Two for Amazon. Additionally, last year, Story Kitchen announced a film adaptation of Square Enix's Just Cause, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto of Blue Beetle fame.
The Sleeping Dogs project reportedly has a writer and a major filmmaker attached, although details on a release date or production start are yet to be disclosed. This revival marks a significant moment for Sleeping Dogs, which saw its sequel canceled in 2013 and its original developer, United Front Games, shut down in 2016. Now, over a decade later, Sleeping Dogs could finally be set for a cinematic wake-up call.
