Simu Liu Set to Star as Wei Shen in Sleeping Dogs Movie

This week, fans of the acclaimed video game *Sleeping Dogs* were thrilled by a tweet from Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu. The actor, known for his role as Shang-Chi in *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings*, announced he was collaborating with the rights holders to bring the beloved game to the big screen. However, the project is further along than many realized. A source close to the development has revealed 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 comment on this exciting development.

*Sleeping Dogs*, first released in 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, follows the gripping story of detective Wei Shen as he goes undercover to infiltrate one of Hong Kong's notorious Triad crime syndicates. Although it didn't meet the sales targets set by its publisher, Square Enix, the game has garnered a dedicated fanbase, fueling hopes for a sequel ever since its release.

The journey to bring *Sleeping Dogs* to the screen has been tumultuous. An earlier attempt at an adaptation was announced back in 2017, with action star Donnie Yen set to lead the project. However, the film vanished from the radar a year later, and Yen recently confirmed to Polygon that the project had been abandoned. Yen shared his disappointment, mentioning the significant time and personal investment he had made in trying to bring the vision to life.

Simu Liu's announcement stirred some confusion among fans, especially when he clarified his intentions in a follow-up statement. Liu expressed his determination to not only produce the movie but also to help develop a sequel to the original game. He acknowledged the challenges of pitching the project to executives unfamiliar with the game and credited the passionate fanbase for keeping the dream alive. "So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight," Liu 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 can now confirm that the production company Story Kitchen is spearheading the *Sleeping Dogs* live-action feature film. Square Enix remains the rights holder. Story Kitchen is no stranger to video game adaptations, having contributed to projects like the *Sonic the Hedgehog* films and Netflix's animated *Tomb Raider* series. They are also currently involved in adapting *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. While details are scarce, IGN has learned that the *Sleeping Dogs* project has both a writer and a major filmmaker attached, though no release date or production start date has been announced yet.

This movie adaptation represents a significant revival for *Sleeping Dogs*, which saw its planned video game sequel canceled in 2013 and its original developer, United Front Games, shut down in 2016. Now, more than a decade later, *Sleeping Dogs* may finally be poised for the cinematic wake-up call fans have long awaited.