0
0
Action and martial arts icon and living legend Donnie Yen, after trying for years, couldn’t muster the support to get a live action adaptation of the hard-hitting video game Sleeping Dogs to come to fruition. Yen teased fans for a while that the film would get made and even posted videos and more of him preparing to take on the role of the game’s anti-hero but alas, it was not meant to be, and Yen raised the white flag recently saying that Hollywood is, well, Hollywood and it wasn’t going to transpire.
Cue and fast forward to this weekend and Shang-Chi star Simu Liu has gone public with his attempt to entice movie studios to get the film made. No worries though for those that are mad that Yen wasn’t able to do it because Liu says that if it indeed happens, Yen will be the first one he will call with the second being actor Will Yun Lee who actually did the voice for the game. Check out Liu’s thoughts on social media below!
Liu stated in the post: “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.”
Basically, it’s Hollywood suits who once again don’t understand a great idea even when it’s biting them on the ass. Nothing new there. I’ve gone on the record for decades saying that Hollywood wouldn’t know a great idea for an action movie even when it’s literally sitting right next to them.
Liu is being very ambitious in the fact that he’s not only trying to get a live action movie done. Oh no. Liu also wants to create a video game sequel as well. It’s go big or go home for the master of the ten rings. Personally, I really don’t understand why, with just Yen involved, that no one wanted to touch this. It’s pure crime action cinema gold. Just imagine the breakneck, hyper-kinetic action design that will encompass the film’s running time. I digress, however.
Liu seems to be very passionate about this so hopefully this will be the shot of adrenaline needed to finally get this worthy project off and running. For those not in the know, Sleeping Dogs is a video game that came out in 2012. Created by United Front Games and published by Square Enix, the game was designed by Mike Skupa and produced by Jeff O’Connell and Feargus Carroll. The game’s plot focused on the story of martial artist and undercover police officer Wei Shen who infiltrates the Sun On Yee Triad organization in a valiant attempt to bring them down. The game was filled with sensationally choreographed game play and featured an attitude like no other. In its first year of release, the game sold over 1.5 million copies so if that doesn’t say that there is a fan base, then nothing will.
Yen has come close to making what essentially is a Sleeping Dogs movie when he did Special I.D. Yen even looked like the main character of Wei Shen in the film. Aside from some pacing issues, Special I.D. was a solid Yen barnburner featuring his signature and sick martial arts mastery.
I also dig the fact that Liu is respecting Yen’s attempt at doing this and wants to include him if it is a go. Liu proved that he has the chops for martial arts action cinema as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of the most solid MCU entries after Endgame. I actually played the game back in the day along with Jet Li’s Rise of Honor, so fingers crossed on this one.
