"Simu Liu to Star as Wei Shen in 'Sleeping Dogs' Movie"

This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu sparked excitement among fans of the beloved video game Sleeping Dogs by tweeting about his efforts to bring the game to the big screen. However, it appears the project is further along than initially suggested. A source close to the project has revealed to IGN that a Sleeping Dogs movie is indeed in development, 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 story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates 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 bring Sleeping Dogs to the screen has been fraught with challenges. An initial adaptation was announced in 2017, with Donnie Yen slated to star, but the project vanished a year later. Yen recently confirmed to Polygon that the film had been scrapped, expressing his disappointment after years of dedication and personal investment.

Liu's tweet initially caused confusion among fans, but he clarified his intentions in a follow-up statement, expressing his commitment to not only a movie but also a sequel to the original game. "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."

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

11 ImagesIGN can confirm that Story Kitchen is spearheading the Sleeping Dogs live-action feature film project, with Square Enix holding the rights. Story Kitchen has a proven track record with video game adaptations, having contributed to projects like 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.

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

The Sleeping Dogs movie represents a significant revival for the franchise, which saw its planned video game sequel canceled in late 2013 and its original developer, United Front Games, shut down three years later. Now, more than a decade later, Sleeping Dogs may finally be poised for a cinematic awakening.