By Sagar V. Mankar 
Netflix has acquired the rights to adapt the popular martial arts video game Sifu, according to a report from Deadline. The streaming giant has tapped screenwriter T.S. Nowlin (The Maze Runner, The Adam Project) to pen the script, with John Wick director Chad Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment and Story Kitchen producing.
Developed by Sloclap, Sifu tells a gripping revenge story set in modern-day China. Players follow a martial arts student on a relentless quest to avenge their murdered master. The game’s standout mechanic revolves around aging—each time the protagonist dies, they resurrect slightly older. However, if they age too much, death becomes permanent, and their mission fails.
Upon release in 2022, Sifu proved to be a commercial hit, selling over one million copies within just three weeks. As of February 2024, its sales have surpassed three million units.
Nowlin brings extensive adaptation experience to the project, having previously worked on major titles like The Maze Runner films and Netflix’s The Adam Project. Meanwhile, 87Eleven Entertainment continues expanding its footprint in video game and book adaptations, with projects like Highlander (starring Henry Cavill), PlayStation’s Ghost of Tsushima, and Rainbow Six (featuring Michael B. Jordan) currently in development.
Story Kitchen, the other production company involved, has built a strong reputation for game adaptations. Their portfolio includes Tomb Raider and Just Cause, as well as indie hits like It Takes Two and Ruiner.
Beyond this upcoming live-action adaptation, Sifu recently appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s animated anthology series Secret Level. The episode, Sifu: It Takes a Life, introduced characters inspired by the game, though its short 10-minute runtime left fans eager for more.
The adaptation is still in its early stages, and details on the release window or casting remain unknown.