Simu Liu Teases “Real Path Forward” About Sleeping Dogs Movie Adaptation

Among the upcoming video game adaptations, one spot is taken by the film based on Sleeping Dogs, the game developed by United Front Games and released in 2012, widely considered one of the most underrated GTA-style games out there, best remembered for its atmosphere, combat system, and story.

It's been confirmed Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us, Nobody 2) is set to direct, with Simu Liu, best known for playing Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Wei Shen. Liu himself was the source of the main news regarding the film adaptation recently; in a new conversation on X, he shared that the film now has a production company attached and, more importantly, a real path forward, with negotiations reportedly ongoing with a gaming studio. You can check his statement below:

Yo Simu Liu I’m so happy for you to be a part of Doomsday, BUT F**K ALL DAT!!!! What up with SLEEPING DOGS bro???!! I need that, WE need that, that got the potential to be the greatest video game adaptation ever if done right!

okay, here it is. we’re moving along really well, we have a director, and a production company, and a REAL path forward.

we’re just in the dealmaking process with the game studio right now (which is a total fan moment for me because I love Square Enix). your support is fuelling us all!

There's still no word on the rest of the cast, when filming starts, or a premiere date, but Liu's post suggests more updates could come later this year. Earlier this month, an early Sleeping Dogs prototype was leaked, showing some differences from the final game. Players could reportedly use the phone camera at any time, rather than only during specific story missions, and Ming's role was significantly bigger. Players could also earn various bonuses for completing optional objectives tied to playing as either a police officer or a triad member.

We also know that United Front Games worked on Sleeping Dogs 2; it was set to feature co-op mode, a new setting, and even a companion app, but financial troubles forced Square Enix to shut the project down, which left a lot of gamers disappointed.

The upcoming live-action Sleeping Dogs movie doesn’t have a release date yet.