Sleeping Dogs Movie Script Draft Completed, Simu Liu Confirms

The long-awaited Sleeping Dogs movie has taken a major step forward, with actor and producer Simu Liu confirming that the first script draft is complete.

For fans of the cult-classic game, this is the clearest sign yet that the adaptation is finally moving beyond the rumor stage and into real production.

Simu Liu shares update on Sleeping Dogs movie: script draft finished

Originally released in 2012, Sleeping Dogs quickly earned a reputation as one of the most underrated open-world action games of its era. Players stepped into the shoes of Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating Hong Kong’s Triads, balancing loyalty, betrayal, and survival in a city brimming with martial arts combat and parkour-inspired movement.

Despite glowing reviews, the game’s sales fell short of expectations, leading to the cancellation of a sequel and the closure of developer United Front Games in 2016. Yet, its legacy has endured, and Hollywood now seems ready to give it a second life.

Simu Liu, best known for his role in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, shared the update on Twitter/X. Alongside a playful photo of his dog, he posted an image of the official Sleeping Dogs script, with the writer’s name deliberately hidden.

 While Liu didn’t reveal more, the post suggests the project is moving into the next stages of development, which means casting and filming could be on the horizon.

Simu Liu shares update on Sleeping Dogs movie: script draft finished

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has tried to adapt Sleeping Dogs. Back in 2017, actor Donnie Yen was attached to star, but the project eventually collapsed after years of stalled progress. Yen later admitted he had poured personal resources into the adaptation, only to see it dissolve. Liu’s involvement, however, seems to have reignited momentum, especially since he’s not just starring as Wei Shen but also producing the film himself.

According to a February report from IGN, the movie is being produced by Story Kitchen in collaboration with Square Enix. Story Kitchen, co‑founded by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, has become a major player in the video game adaptation space, with credits including the Sonic the Hedgehog films and Netflix’s Tomb Raider animated series. The company is also working on adaptations of Life is Strange, Sifu, It Takes Two, Vampire Survivors, Square Enix’s Just Cause, and even 2025's GOTY contenders Split Fiction and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. With that track record, the Sleeping Dogs film seems to be in capable hands.