This week, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Simu Liu received Sleeping Dogs followers excited when he tweeted to say he was working with the rights holders to deliver the much-loved online game to the large display screen.
It seems issues are a bit additional forward than that. A supply near the challenge has instructed IGN that the Sleeping Dogs film is in growth, and we’re listening to Simu Liu, who performs Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is producing and set to play the lead function of Wei Shen.
IGN has requested Square Enix for remark.
Sleeping Dogs was first launched in 2012 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC and tells the story of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates certainly one of Hong Kong’s infamous Triad crime syndicates. While it failed to fulfill writer Square Enix’s lofty gross sales expectations, it’s much-loved by followers and sequel hopes have adopted it ever since.

The unique adaptation was introduced in 2017 with Donnie Yen set to star, however the movie disappeared a 12 months later and, just some weeks in the past, Yen himself confirmed it had been scrapped.
“I spent a number of time and did a number of work with these producers, and I even invested a few of my very own cash into acquiring the drafts and a number of the rights,” Yen instructed Polygon.
“I waited for years. Years. And I actually need to do it. I’ve all these visions in my head, and sadly… I don’t know, you understand how Hollywood goes, proper? I spent many, a few years on it. It was an unlucky factor. Well, on to higher issues.”
So when Liu tweeted to say he was working to make the Sleeping Dogs film a actuality, there was a level of confusion amongst followers. Liu himself adopted up with another statement that added gasoline to the fireplace, and even revealed his intention to assist deliver a Sleeping Dogs online game sequel to life.
“So few movie initiatives make it from pitch part to greenlight,” he stated. “Pitching execs who don’t perceive the sport has been tiring. Everyone’s overwhelming love of Sleeping Dogs right here has actually given us life!
“First a film, then a sequel recreation for everybody… that’s at all times been the dream.”
IGN can reveal that Story Kitchen is main the Sleeping Dogs reside motion characteristic movie challenge, with Square Enix the rights holder in query. Story Kitchen has kind in the case of online game variations, having labored on all the pieces from the Sonic the Hedgehog movies to Netflix’s animated Tomb Raider sequence. It’s at present engaged on the upcoming Streets of Rage adaptation and an adaptation of It Takes Two for Amazon.
Last 12 months, Story Kitchen introduced a movie adaptation of Square Enix’s Just Cause, with Blue Beetle director Ángel Manuel Soto signed on. IGN understands the Sleeping Dogs challenge has a author and main filmmaker hooked up to the challenge, however there’s no launch date or phrase on when manufacturing will start simply but.
The film marks a big revival for Sleeping Dogs, which noticed its online game sequel canceled in late 2013 earlier than it entered manufacturing, and its unique developer, United Front Games, shut down three years later. Now, over a decade later, Sleeping Dogs may lastly be set for a wake-up name.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.