Simu Liu, MCU star, gives a rather encouraging update regarding the long-awaited film adaptation of the open world action title Sleeping Dogs. Liu took to social media on October 18 and confirmed that a draft of the script for the project has been completed. Liu, who is set to star as Wei Shen – the game’s protagonist whose character is an undercover Hong Kong police officer infiltrating Triads – has been pushing the film forward ever since declaring his intentions to the public in January 2025. This major milestone testifies that things are actually taking on a fast train forward with the project, which has been languishing in development hell for years, now with a major name at its helm.
There are still considerable challenges ahead with principal photography, however, as Liu would detail. Yes, he has mentioned the positive and collaborative relationship being developed with Square Enix, the publisher of the game, but what really remains to be nailed down is the commitment from the major studios. According to Liu, the main hurdle is convincing these financiers of the underlying value of the intellectual property, which, despite its critical acclaim, occupies a space more as a beloved cult-classic than as a universally recognized blockbuster franchise. Most likely, his stature as a prominent actor is being used to bridge this crucial gap between gaming recognition and Hollywood investment.
New attention on Sleeping Dogs the Movie comes not long after a failed attempt at bringing the story to life. In 2017, famed martial artist and actor Donnie Yen announced his own version of the 2012 title, wherein he was to take on the role of Shen. That project was officially canceled in early January 2025, just weeks before Liu went public with his interest and engagement in resuscitating the concept. The game itself, originally released for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, now enjoys a huge following among players, many of whom have long desired an official sequel to its widely praised Hong Kong setting and strong action mechanics.
Liu’s stewardship over the adaptation coincides with a burgeoning area of success in video game-to-screen transitions-the latest being The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Although Sleeping Dogs was a somewhat older title and probably quite obscure to the average moviegoer, Liu’s star power, a completed script, and a rich, cinematic source narrative provide the strongest indication yet of Wei Shen’s story making it onto the big screen. Now it is all left to expect a decent reception of the script and an important green light from the studio willing to invest in the legendary action IP.
