‘John Wick’ Meets ‘The Departed’ Video Game Adaptation Gets Official Update After 1 Year of Silence
Actor Simu Liu has confirmed that a long-rumoured film adaptation of the video game "Sleeping Dogs" is progressing after roughly a year without any public updates. Responding to a fan on X, Liu revealed the project now has a director and a production company attached, with dealmaking underway with game studio Square Enix. The update comes amid a broader resurgence in video game adaptations, following box office successes such as "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Sonic the Hedgehog," alongside the critical acclaim of HBO's "The Last of Us," which has renewed fan enthusiasm for other long-mooted game-to-screen projects.
Liu, who has been attached to the project for some time, described it as moving along "really well" and said the team now has a "REAL path forward," though negotiations with Square Enix are still ongoing rather than finalised. The article notes that "Sleeping Dogs," an open-world action game often likened to a blend of "John Wick" and "The Departed," is one of several 2010s-era titles, alongside "Red Dead Redemption" and "Watch Dogs," whose fans have been pushing for film treatment. Reaction to Liu's post was enthusiastic, with fans expressing hope the film could become one of the strongest video game adaptations to date.
- Simu Liu confirms "Sleeping Dogs" movie has director, production company attached
- Dealmaking with Square Enix still ongoing, no release details yet
- Update follows a year of silence and rising fan interest in game adaptations
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Sleeping Dogs is an action video game set in Hong Kong, where players follow an undercover police officer caught between the police and organised crime. Its mix of martial arts, police drama and crime story has led to comparisons with action films and crime thrillers. Square Enix, the game’s publisher, is involved in discussions about bringing it to the screen.
Simu Liu, an actor known for playing Shang-Chi in Marvel films, has been linked to the proposed film. Adapting a game involves turning its characters and setting into a story for viewers who may never have played it, while securing the rights and a production team. Recent film and television successes based on games have renewed interest in similar projects.