Simu Liu 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 that he was collaborating with the rights holders to bring the game to the big screen. However, it seems the project is further along than initially suggested. A source close to the development has confirmed 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 comments 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. Despite not meeting Square Enix's sales expectations, the game garnered a dedicated fanbase and has been the subject of sequel rumors ever since.

The journey to adapt *Sleeping Dogs* into a film has been tumultuous. The first attempt was announced in 2017 with Donnie Yen slated to star, but the project fizzled out within a year. Yen recently shared with Polygon that despite his significant investment of time and personal funds, the project was ultimately scrapped.

"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," Yen said. "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 caused some confusion among fans, but he clarified his intentions in a follow-up statement, expressing his determination to not only bring the *Sleeping Dogs* movie to life but also to develop a sequel game.

"So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight," Liu remarked. "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 can reveal that Story Kitchen is leading the *Sleeping Dogs* live-action feature film project, with Square Enix holding the rights. Story Kitchen has a proven track record in video game adaptations, having worked on projects ranging from the *Sonic the Hedgehog* films to Netflix's animated *Tomb Raider* series. They are also involved in the upcoming *Streets of Rage* adaptation and an adaptation of *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. Sources indicate 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.

This movie marks a significant revival for *Sleeping Dogs*, which saw its planned video game sequel canceled in late 2013 before entering production, and its original developer, United Front Games, shut down three years later. Now, over a decade later, *Sleeping Dogs* could finally be set for its long-awaited cinematic wake-up call.