Simu Liu Says Sleeping Dogs Movie Script Is Complete—Cult Classic’s Comeback Picks Up Steam

The Sleeping Dogs movie adaptation isn’t dead after all, the script’s first draft is officially done. Marvel’s own Simu Liu broke the news in classic fashion, tweeting a photo of his real-life dozing dog to mark the milestone. After months of uncertainty, it looks like the cult favorite video game is back on Hollywood’s radar.

Just earlier this year, signs pointed to the end of the project. Star Wars actor Donnie Yen revealed he’d poured time and even his own money into the Sleeping Dogs movie, only for the venture to hit a wall. The project was apparently scrapped. Fans mourned, and then scrambled for hope when, just weeks later, Liu revealed he’d stepped in and that there was still life in the adaptation.

Sleeping Dogs Film: Script Done, Studio Uncertain

Liu’s tweet was simple but loaded: “in honour of our sleeping dogs script draft being done, here’s my sleepy dog 👍” He didn’t drop names about who penned the script or who else is involved behind the scenes. But the message rang out loud and clear, the first step’s complete, and momentum is picking up.

Even more interesting is the backstage drama. When a commenter asked Liu about working with Square Enix, the game’s publisher and IP-holder, he shed some light: “They’re absolutely great, it’s the [Hollywood] studios that don’t seem to understand how important this IP is BUT we will get them there.” Translation: Square Enix is on board, but Liu and team are working to convince studios of the game’s value. He’s promising persistence.

This is a key nugget for longtime fans of Sleeping Dogs, a gritty open world action game set in Hong Kong. Since the game’s release in August 2012, players have rallied for a proper silver screen adaptation. The game mixed martial arts combat, undercover triad drama, and neon-lit city chases, ripe for blockbuster treatment.

in honour of our sleeping dogs script draft being done, here’s my sleepy dog 👍 pic.twitter.com/l1KsFNDj5V

— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) October 18, 2025

Years in Limbo: From Yen’s Effort to Studio Turmoil

The Sleeping Dogs movie has cycled through multiple headlines over the years. Donnie Yen publicly confirmed its development back in February 2018, offering fans early hope. After that? Radio silence, at least until Yen said in January that things had “stalled.” His words: “spent a lot of time and even invested some of [his] own money” trying to get Sleeping Dogs onto the big screen. Tough news if you love your video games with a side of Hong Kong noir.

But the turnaround was quick. In mere weeks, news broke that Simu Liu would step up. Suddenly, a new era for the project began, fueled by Liu’s star power and a vocal fan base hungry for an authentic adaptation. Yen, long attached to the idea, virtually handed the baton to Liu, though it’s unclear who else from the game or previous efforts will be involved in this new version.

What about the studio itself? Liu’s comments suggest all eyes are now on Hollywood decision-makers, not the original game creators. It’s a classic tug of war between creatives fighting for niche IP and cautious studios worried about mainstream appeal. Liu’s message: the story’s not over yet.

The movie’s prospects mirror the fate of the game’s own sequels. Developer United Front Games pushed for a Sleeping Dogs sequel and a multiplayer spin-off, Triad Wars, but neither project saw the light of day. The studio shuttered in 2016, leaving fans with a single, beloved entry and years of speculation. For true believers, Liu’s dog photo wasn’t just cute, it was proof that big things may finally be moving. As Liu put it, “we will get them there.”