5 Minutes
After years of quiet development, the live-action adaptation of the cult video game Sleeping Dogs has taken a decisive step forward: a director has been announced and Simu Liu is attached to star as Wei Shen. What was once a stalled adaptation might finally be moving toward production.
From cult game to Hollywood hopeful
Sleeping Dogs, the 2012 open-world action game set in Hong Kong, earned praise for its immersive city, parkour-style traversal and hand-to-hand combat. Despite positive reviews, the game’s modest sales stalled a franchise — yet its devoted fanbase helped it grow into a cult classic. That blend of grounded martial arts, undercover-cop drama and dense urban atmosphere makes the IP an attractive target for a live-action thriller in today’s appetite for kinetic, grounded action films.
Timo Tjahjanto takes the helm
Simu Liu confirmed on social media that Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto will direct the Sleeping Dogs movie. Tjahjanto has built a reputation for ruthless, tightly choreographed action in genre cinema and has increasingly been tapped for larger projects. Recent headlines around his name include work on high-profile sequels and collaborations with Western studios — a career trajectory that positions him as a credible match for a Hong Kong-inspired action saga.
Tjahjanto’s earlier work (known for uncompromising intensity and visceral fight choreography) suggests he could lean into the game’s brutality and street-level atmosphere rather than a glossy blockbuster sheen. Fans hoping for a film that captures the grime, grit and visceral combat of the source material may see that as a promising sign.
Simu Liu: A new face for Wei Shen
Simu Liu, widely recognized from Marvel’s Shang-Chi and other projects, brings global profile and action experience to the role of Wei Shen, the undercover Hong Kong cop at the story’s center. Liu’s casting signals Hollywood’s willingness to lean into Asian-led action properties, and it may help the project attract wider distribution and marketing muscle.
Comparisons are inevitable: the film could be pitched between the grounded Hong Kong crime cinema of Infernal Affairs and the modern action sensibilities of films like John Wick or The Raid. If Tjahjanto emphasizes raw physicality and urban choreography, viewers might see echoes of both Asian and Western action lineages.
Script ready, studio and date still pending
Multiple reports indicate a completed screenplay exists, but no studio or release date has been announced yet. Sleeping Dogs has been through several Hollywood development cycles; at one point Donnie Yen was rumored to play Wei Shen, and earlier versions never reached production. This time, the combination of a finished script, a charismatic lead and a director known for action gives the project more momentum than previous attempts.
Industry context: video-game adaptations have become trendier, with more filmmakers seeking faithful, genre-focused takes (rather than family-friendly or heavy CGI spectacles). Games with strong world-building and distinct gameplay — like Sleeping Dogs’ parkour and melee combat — offer clear cinematic hooks when handled by directors who respect the source material.
"Timo Tjahjanto’s sensibility for grounded, physical action could be the missing ingredient here," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "Pairing him with Simu Liu gives the project both stylistic teeth and star power. If the production leans into Hong Kong’s cinematic traditions and avoids glossy homogenization, this could be one of the more interesting game-to-film adaptations in years."
Alongside excitement, there’s cautious optimism in fan communities. Many players still debate what elements are essential: the immersive open-world feel, the emphasis on melee combat, or the moral tension of an undercover cop walking a thin line. Translating that to a two-hour movie will be a balancing act.
For now, expect more announcements: casting, a studio attachment and possibly a trailer timeline if the project continues forward. Given the director’s publicly expressed long-time fandom for the game and the momentum around the script and star, a fuller slate of production details may arrive sooner than fans feared.
Concluding note: Sleeping Dogs’ move from dormant IP to an active production with Timo Tjahjanto and Simu Liu feels like a promising alignment of talent and tone. Whether it becomes a faithful homage to the game or a reinvention for cinema will depend on how the filmmakers handle the city, the combat, and the moral grit at the story’s core.
Comments
Reza
Is this even true? Dont get me wrong Simu's solid, but will it feel like HK or a glossy Hollywood set? if that's real then... fingers crossed, but skeptical
atomwave
Whoa this actually could work. Tjahjanto's fight stuff + Simu Liu's energy = promise. Please dont Hollywood-ize Hong Kong, keep grime, parkour, real pain. hyped but cautious
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