Marvel star Simu Liu has offered a positive update on his long-in-development Sleeping Dogs movie adaptation, saying the film has “a REAL path forward” as discussions with game publisher Square Enix continue.
The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actor offered a treat to patient fans when asked about the project’s status on X/Twitter. It’s been some time since we heard where Sleeping Dogs was at, but don’t worry, Liu said it is still very much in the works.
“Okay, here it is,” he replied to a fan asking for an update. “We’re moving along really well, we have a director, and a production company, and a REAL path forward.”
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 rn (which is a total fan moment for me bc i love SquareEnix). your support is fuelling us all! https://t.co/1ufLYZab0E
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) August 16, 2026
Liu quickly stepped in to announce he had taken the reins to develop a movie based on Square Enix and United Front Games’ Grand Theft Auto-inspired crime drama after Donnie Yen confirmed his take had been canned in early 2025. Although the nature of his involvement was initially kept a mystery, IGN reported that a Sleeping Dogs movie was, in fact, in development, with Liu set to produce and star as a live-action version of main character Wei Shen.
The star’s new update also mentions a director, which was confirmed to be Nobody 2 and Killers filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto late last year. Video game adaptation veteran studio Story Kitchen is also in the mix, and in October 2025, Liu announced that the Sleeping Dogs script draft was completed.
Although things are moving slowly, they are absolutely still moving. Liu and the rest of the Sleeping Dogs team now need to work with Square Enix if they want to get the ball rolling toward an eventual release.
“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),” he added. “Your support is fueling us all!”
“Set in a vibrant, contemporary, neon-infused neo-noir Hong Kong,” an official description on the Story Kitchen website says. “WEI SHEN is an undercover cop torn between his duty as an officer of the law and, separately, his loyalty to a family of violent Triads that he’s trying to infiltrate, many of whom he grew up with on the streets.”
The Sleeping Dogs movie currently has no firm release date or window. Liu has plenty to keep him busy in the meantime, as he’s set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Doomsday this December. He’s also still pushing to make Shang-Chi 2 happen. Until we learn more, you can read IGN’s review of the 2012 game to find out why we thought it deserved an 8.5/10.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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