Over 8 years ago, it was reported that martial arts star Donnie Yen (The Prosecutor) would be starring in a film adaptation of Square Enix’s hit video game Sleeping Dogs, but since then, news about Sleeping Dogs has been off and on. Now, it turns out that Yen might be out for good:
“I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and some of the rights. I waited for years. Years. And I really want to do it. I have all these visions in my head, and unfortunately… I don’t know, you know how Hollywood goes, right? I spent many, many years on it. It was an unfortunate thing. Well, on to better things,” Yen recently told Polygon. And the “better things” he speaks of might be the John Wick spin-off, which he will see Yen starring and directing (read more the spin-off).
However, a new gleam of hope has emerged in the form of Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), who has been actively pitching the project to studio executives, even hinting that he’d get Yen re-involved in the process:
“So few film projects make it from pitch phase to greenlight. Pitching execs who don’t understand the game has been tiring. Everyone’s overwhelming love of Sleeping Dogs here has really given us life! First a movie, then a sequel game for everyone… that’s always been the dream”, Liu said on X. He added, “If we actually pull this off, my first call will be to Donnie. Second call would be Will Yun Lee, the original voice of Wei. Third, to DoorDash to find me the nearest restaurant that serves pork bun”.
Sleeping Dogs follows an undercover police officer on a mission to take down one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in the world: the notorious Triads. The movie based on an action video game is set in Hong Kong and focuses on martial arts fighting, racing, boat chases… and shooting while doing all of that (via Deadline).
Sleeping Dogs is a lot more synonymous with Hong Kong-style of filming than what’s described in its plot. Asian film expert/producer Mike Leeder (Ultimate Justice) was responsible for voice casting Sleeping Dogs when the game was known as its preliminary title True Crime: Hong Kong. Leeder also produced/coordinated the game’s live-action trailer (see video below) with late actor/martial artist Darren Shahlavi (Kickboxer: Vengeance, Ip Man 2), who choreographed the action.
We’ll keep you posted on this story as we learn more.
That’s great and all, but we already have a Sleeping Dogs movie with Donnie Yen. Its called Special ID, lol!
‘Special ID’ isn’t a movie, it’s a steaming pile of trash. I’d rather have my testicles smashed then have the displeasure of ever having to watch it again.
Haha, cool story, bro! XD
Special ID was meant to topple Flashpoint and SPL, but failed 100000x. That movie is unwatchable!
The trailer was so freaking mindblowing and amazing!
no wonder why Vincent left the set because they kept freaking changing everything about the damn movie!!!
I agree with the above: Special I.D. is unequivocally bad.
That said, I do want to see this made and on the big screen, but not with Donnie as Wei Shen. If we’re going with known quantities, I’d like to see Max Zhang in the lead. Maybe Andy On. Maybe.
I’m one of the few people out there who enjoyed Special ID just as much as Flash Point. I liked how Donnie played an irresponsible smart-ass while decimating everyone in his way even when he was broken and battered. I just don’t get the hate for it.
I’d be happy with a Sleeping Dogs movie, but I hope Donnie is allowed to let loose.
I agreed with you. Last fight with Andy was excellent but just a bit too short. If Donnie just added another 2 minutes more to that fight scene and it would be classic like flashpoint.
Cheers. I guess 2 extra minutes wouldn’t be so bad. I think with Flash Point, it was an equal balance of kung fu and jiujitsu, but in Special ID, the ratio was tipped in favor of jiujitsu, and not a lot of people appreciated that.
Hopefully this film comes to fruition, I really like the game.
Disagree completely about Special ID,
Movie was good, fights were really good choreography and executed, the whole story yes was quite simple and etc. But this movie wasnt trash at all.
Donnie Yen’s recent trash was Enter the fat Dragon, i had really big hope for this one, but holy shit it was uber bad, exept maybe that big warehouse fight secuence but the rest was really bad in any possible way ( comedy was really bad…)
waiting!!!!!
I really hope this happens it’s been so long since announced!
Sleeping Dogs was a great game that not enough people played. Easily my favorite “open world crime” game, more interesting than any GTA, in my opinion. Sometimes I think about firing it back up and experiencing that recreation of Hong Kong once again.
Fingers crossed that the movie turns out good.