Just weeks after it looked like a Sleeping Dogs film would never materialise, Marvel star Simu Liu has suddenly revealed his involvement in still making one happen.
Earlier this month, Star Wars actor and legendary martial artist Donnie Yen revealed he had given up on the idea of a Sleeping Dogs movie after spending “many, many years” trying to get it made, with little progress.
Now, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu appears to have picked up the torch – after randomly responding to a fan question on social media – and is keen on a sequel game too.
“Working with the rights holders to bring Sleeping Dogs to the big screen!” Liu wrote, responding out of the blue to fan Zengames44.
The surprising update marks the latest twist in the tale of Hollywood’s interest in the Sleeping Dogs brand.
Working with the rights holders to bring Sleeping Dogs to the big screen!
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) January 30, 2025
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A GTA-style game set in Hong Kong with martial arts combat and parkour, Sleeping Dogs was well-received upon its release back in 2012, but never sold enough for a sequel to be greenlit.
In a further post on social media, Liu confirmed he really was trying to get a Sleeping Dogs movie greenlit, and that he hoped for a video game sequel too.
“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.”
So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight. 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. pic.twitter.com/g84r9Lf0SI
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) January 31, 2025
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A potential Sleeping Dogs movie was first mooted years ago, with Yen attached to the project in 2018 and involved in trying to get it made for a lengthy period.
“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 previously.
“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.”