Thirteen years later, fans still yearn for another game like Sleeping Dogs — and if all goes well, we might finally get a sequel. In case you missed it, actor Simu Liu has been working hard to secure the rights for a Sleeping Dogs movie, something Donnie Yen was unable to accomplish a few years ago.
While the project is still in progress, Liu remains hopeful that executives will finally understand his vision for the film adaptation.
“First a movie, then a sequel game for everyone… that’s always been the dream,” Liu tweeted on January 31. The post garnered over 1.4 million views, sparking a wave of replies from fans eager for any news related to Sleeping Dogs.
There was never another game quite like Sleeping Dogs. Sure, the Grand Theft Auto series was a clear inspiration, but what Sleeping Dogs did that separated it from its peers was how it created its own identity by creating an atmospheric city, tight combat, and a grittier crime story. It also drew heavily from the style of iconic Hong Kong action films, influenced by directors like John Woo and action stars like Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee.
The game’s version of Hong Kong wasn’t a like-for-like recreation, but it was immersive enough to transport players into its neon-soaked urban jungle where organized crime ran rampant.
United Front Games and Square Enix fought tooth and nail to secure the video game rights to True Crime, ultimately transforming the now-defunct franchise into what we know as Sleeping Dogs.
After the failed attempt to develop True Crime: Hong Kong, it was Square Enix that saw the potential for something special — and they were right. Like lightning in a bottle, Sleeping Dogs sold over 1.5 million units by September 2012, just one month after its release. A Definitive Edition was released 2 years after, which gained new fans in the process.
Simu Liu’s efforts to acquire licensing rights for a Sleeping Dogs movie could finally take the series in a new direction. There’s plenty of excitement surrounding the possibility of a sequel, especially among fans who want more of Wei Shen’s story.
“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,” Liu joked in response to a fan’s reply, showing his support for Donnie Yen despite Yen’s previous unsuccessful attempts to secure the movie rights.
A Sleeping Dogs sequel could also bring much-needed improvements — most notably, a better game engine and an overhaul of its notoriously flawed driving mechanics. Fans are also hoping for an even more compelling story this time around.
There’s still so much to explore in Wei Shen’s journey. Perhaps the upcoming movie and potential sequel will add new layers to one of gaming’s sleeper hits.