Simu Liu says Sleeping Dogs film first draft complete

Simu Liu said on October 18 that the first draft of a screenplay for a film adaptation of the video game Sleeping Dogs is complete, offering the most concrete progress yet on a project that has been stalled for years. Liu, who posted the update on social media alongside a photo of his dog and a screenshot of the draft, is attached to produce and is expected to play the game’s protagonist, undercover officer Wei Shen. He named the writer as Tze Chun, and production companies Story Kitchen and Hill District Media are reported to be involved.

Sleeping Dogs, released in 2012 by United Front Games, is an open world action game set in Hong Kong that follows Wei Shen as he infiltrates the Sun On Yee Triad. The title has maintained a devoted following despite modest sales at release. Its developer closed in 2016 and a planned game sequel and a multiplayer spinoff were canceled in the mid 2010s.

Liu framed the script announcement as a milestone while noting remaining obstacles. He said the game’s publisher, Square Enix, has been cooperative, but added that film studios have not yet fully appreciated the property’s potential, writing that studios "don't seem to understand how important...