The Sleeping Dogs movie is reportedly already in development. According to Fandom Wire, Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu is working to bring the video game adaptation to the big screen. The actor seemingly teased the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, by posting a picture from the action-adventure game. In a tweet, he spoke briefly about pitching ideas to movie execs before speaking on the significance of Sleeping Dogs.
“So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight. Pitching execs who don’t understand the game has been tiring,” he wrote. “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.”
IGN adds that Liu will not only produce the potential movie but will play the lead role of Wei Shen, an undercover officer from the SDU assigned to infiltrate the Triads as part of a mission for the Hong Kong Police. Meanwhile, Story Kitchen, the media company behind the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and Netflix’s Tomb Raider series, is leading the project.
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to turn Sleeping Dogs into a film. In 2017, the iconic action star Donnie Yen was working on a similar project. He was set to play Wei Shen and even put his own time and money into it, but the film ultimately never came to life. Liu has also emphasized that if the movie comes to fruition, his first call will be to Donnie Yen. This statement acknowledges the significant contribution Donnie Yen has already made and highlights the strong fan support and desire for Will Yun Lee to return in some way.
Released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to infiltrate a notorious Triad crime syndicate in Hong Kong. Although it didn’t hit the high sales targets set by publisher Square Enix, the game has gained a dedicated fanbase, and calls for a sequel have persisted ever since.
