Simu Liu reawakens Sleeping Dogs adaptation

C’mon, boy, get up. We’ve got a video game to adapt.

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  February 2, 2025 | 5:15pm
Screenshot: YouTube/Photo courtesy of Disney
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Simu Liu reawakens Sleeping Dogs adaptation
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Despite spending nearly a month snoozing, an adaptation of the video game Sleeping Dogs has been roused back to life. Shaking a bag of Beggin’ Strips and asking, “Who wants to go for a walk?” Shang Chi star Simu Liu reassured fans on X that a Sleeping Dogs adaptation is still in the works, hoping that the movie might give a sequel game a push. “So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight,” Liu wrote. “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.” But apparently, the movie sprung out of bed like a shot because IGN now reports that the movie is in active development, with Liu expected to produce and star as protagonist Wei Shen.

In the game, San Francisco police officer Wei Shen transfers to Hong Kong to infiltrate the city’s Triad crime syndicate. Wei stays under deep cover as he proves his worth to the Triads while working to bring them down from within.

Earlier last month, Donnie Yen, who had been developing a Sleeping Dogs movie since 2017, told Polygon that he “spent a lot of time and did a lot of work,” investing his own money into “obtaining drafts and some of the rights.” Alas, “You know how Hollywood goes,” Yen said. “Spent many, many years on it. It was an unfortunate thing […] Well, on to better things.”

Don’t get back into bed yet, Mr. Yen. Liu’s tweets seemingly contradict IGN’s sources, indicating that Pat Dobek’s former beau was still interested in Yen playing the lead, and if he’s not available, maybe Will Yun Lee, who voiced Wei in the video games, would be interested. “If we actually pull this off, my first call will be to Donnie,” Liu wrote. “Second call would be Will Yun Lee, the original voice of Wei. Third, to DoorDash to find me the nearest restaurant that serves pork bun.”

We await further news after Liu’s post-pork bun nap.

 
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