Summary
- Simu Liu is making significant progress in bringing the Sleeping Dogs movie to the big screen.
- Donnie Yen was originally attached to the project, but he gave a disappointing update about it last month.
- Liu's authenticity and age make him a natural fit for the lead role in the Hollywood adaptation of Sleeping Dogs.
Simu Liu previously admitted wanting to make a movie inspired by the canceled video game Sleeping Dogs. It turned out that the Marvel star was already making progress in the said project.
Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action-adventure game developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix. The game is set in Hong Kong and follows undercover police officer Wei Shen as he infiltrates the Triad organization. It was well-received due to its engaging narrative, immersive setting and dynamic combat setting. A sequel was even developed to expand the game, but it was deemed so ambitious and was eventually shelved. Filmmaker Donnie Yen was attached to make a movie from the game but confirmed earlier this year, after several years of waiting, that it was canceled. However, the Shang-Chi star is reportedly already making significant progress on the project.

Simu Liu Is Trying To Revive A Canceled Video Game Movie
MCU star Simu Liu is working to revive the long-delayed Sleeping Dogs movie—can this 12-year-old cult classic finally make it to the big screen?
Just last week, Liu announced his interest in making a Sleeping Dogs movie. According to the MCU actor, he was “Working with the rights holders to bring Sleeping Dogs to the big screen!” However, an insider told IGN Southeast Asia that the project was “further ahead” than what the Jackpot! star shared. The Sleeping Dogs film is reportedly already “in development,” and Liu is set to play the lead character, Wei Shen. The report also added that entertainment company Story Kitchen is leading the live-action movie project. Story Kitchen has a reputation for making video game adaptations, having worked on Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s Tomb Raider series. Last year, it announced a film adaptation of Square Enix’s Just Cause. IGN has already reached out to Square Enix for comment.
Yen was initially attached to direct and star in the Sleeping Dogs movie, which was first announced in 2017. However, he gave a disappointing update about the project earlier this year. According to him, after years of being attached to it and doing all he could, he would not be pushing it. “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 told Polygon. “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.” Apparently, Liu is now working on it.
Yen and Liu are both Asian and are perfect for the role set in Hong Kong. However, one has an advantage over the other. When it comes to authentic action cinema, Yen has an advantage because he is a skilled martial artist and has a strong action star presence with tons of experience in gritty, hard-hitting action movies. However, he is already over 60 and is older than how most envision Wei Shen. This makes 35-year-old Liu a better choice. The younger actor is a more natural fit for the character, making him a better option for the Hollywood-style adaptation. It would be nice to see Yen in the film since he was also very invested in the project. He could help with the choreography and probably play a mentor for Liu’s Wei.

Another Video Game Movie Has Seemingly Been Put To Sleep
While three Sony titles have been given the adaptation nod at the start of 2025, one already-launched project is now sleeping with the fishes.
Source: IGN