Marvel star Simu Liu promises some “positive updates” soon as fan begs him to do justice to Sleeping Dogs adaptation
Following an extended silence, Simu Liu indicated via social media that substantive developments regarding the Sleeping Dogs film adaptation would emerge soon, having responded to a fan's request that he honour the source material. The project currently lacks backing from a major Hollywood studio despite assembling a director and completing a script.
The adaptation's journey has been circuitous since its initial announcement in 2017 with Donnie Yen attached. Yen later declared the venture defunct in 2025, though Liu revitalised it that same year by revealing a finished screenplay and renewed forward momentum. Timo Tjahjanto signed on as director in December 2025, bringing experience from combat-focused cinema including Nobody 2 and The Night Comes For Us. His background in choreographed action sequences positions him to translate the game's martial arts gameplay to the screen.
In short
- Actor Simu Liu signalled incoming announcements about the Sleeping Dogs film adaptation after six months without updates
- The project remains without studio backing despite appointing director Timo Tjahjanto in December 2025
- Tjahjanto brings expertise in action choreography from films including Nobody 2 and The Night Comes For Us
Explained simply
Sleeping Dogs is a video game centred on martial arts action and kung fu combat, originally released in 2012 and building a devoted following among gamers. The story follows an undercover cop navigating Hong Kong's criminal underworld, blending high-octane fight sequences with narrative depth that fans believe translates well to film.
The project was first announced as a film adaptation in 2017 with actor Donnie Yen attached, but stalled and was eventually abandoned. Simu Liu, known for playing the lead in Marvel's Shang-Chi, revived it in 2025 with a completed screenplay, and director Timo Tjahjanto, who specialises in choreographed action sequences, joined in December 2025. Tjahjanto brings experience from combat-focused films including Nobody 2 and The Night Comes For Us.
Despite assembling creative talent and completing a script, the Sleeping Dogs adaptation currently lacks financial backing from a major Hollywood studio. Game adaptations have historically struggled to reach cinemas, making the project's uncertain status reflective of broader challenges in translating interactive entertainment to film.
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