Home News The Sleeping Dogs Movie IS in Development and We’re Hearing Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Is Set to Play Wei Shen

The Sleeping Dogs Movie IS in Development and We’re Hearing Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Is Set to Play Wei Shen

Author : Violet Update : Mar 31,2025

This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu sparked excitement among fans of the beloved video game Sleeping Dogs when he tweeted about collaborating with the rights holders to bring the game to the big screen. However, it appears that the project is further along than Liu's initial tweet 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 exciting development.

Originally released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Sleeping Dogs follows the gripping story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong's notorious Triad crime syndicates. Although it did not meet the sales expectations set by publisher Square Enix, the game has garnered a dedicated fanbase and hopes for a sequel have persisted ever since.

Sleeping Dogs is set for a wake-up call with a movie adaptation. Image credit: Square Enix.

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. However, the project vanished a year later, and Yen recently confirmed its cancellation to Polygon. He expressed his disappointment, noting the significant time and personal investment he had put into the project.

Liu's announcement caused some confusion among fans, especially since he later clarified his ambitions to not only bring the movie to life but also to revive hopes for a Sleeping Dogs video game sequel. "So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight," Liu stated. "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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11 ImagesIGN has learned that Story Kitchen is spearheading the Sleeping Dogs live-action feature film project, with Square Enix holding the rights. Story Kitchen is no stranger to video game adaptations, having previously worked on projects like the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider series. They are also currently involved in upcoming adaptations such as 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. Sources indicate that the Sleeping Dogs project already has a writer and a major filmmaker attached, though no release date or production start date has been disclosed yet.

This movie represents a significant revival for Sleeping Dogs, which saw its planned video game sequel canceled in late 2013 before production could begin, 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 wake-up call.