The much-anticipated film adaptation of the 2012 video game "Sleeping Dogs" had been confirmed as cancelled earlier this month, leaving fans disheartened. However, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon, thanks to Marvel star Simu Liu. As reported by Newsweek, Liu responded to a fan's plea on X/Twitter, expressing his active efforts to revive the project. "Working with the rights holders to bring Sleeping Dogs to the big screen," he stated, igniting a renewed sense of excitement among the game's enthusiasts.
The film was initially announced in 2017, with martial arts icon Donnie Yen set to take the lead role. Unfortunately, the project vanished from the radar a year later and was officially declared scrapped by Yen himself just weeks ago. Yen shared his frustrations, revealing the extensive efforts and personal investments he made in trying to bring the film to life. "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 explained. "I waited for years. And I really wanted to do it. And unfortunately... I don't know. You know how Hollywood goes, right?"
The cancellation had seemingly dashed all hopes of seeing the Hong Kong-set action franchise continue on the big screen. However, Liu's recent social media interaction has rekindled the possibility. Whether Liu will successfully secure the rights or manage to get the project moving forward remains uncertain, but his involvement has certainly sparked renewed interest.
"Sleeping Dogs" was originally released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, immersing players in the gripping narrative of detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong's notorious Triad crime syndicates. The game was critically acclaimed, earning an impressive 8/10 from IGN. Despite its success, no sequels were produced, leaving fans eager for more of the thrilling storyline and dynamic gameplay.