Simu Liu promises Sleeping Dogs updates

The road to the big screen can often be as winding as a martial arts movie, especially when dealing with beloved video game adaptations. The story of the Sleeping Dogs film adaptation is a perfect example of this, marked by delays, shifting gears, and persistent hope.

Almost six months after recent updates, star Simu Liu has promised fans that news regarding his Sleeping Dogs movie is on its way. Despite the enthusiasm from the fanbase—with calls for Liu to truly do justice to the game—the project remains quietly in development, awaiting a major studio commitment.

The journey of this cinematic project hasn’t been smooth. The adaptation first emerged in 2017 with big-name involvement from Donnie Yen. However, as time progressed, the film entered a strange cycle of pausing and restarting. In 2025, yen announced that the movie had been shelved, adding another layer of uncertainty to the anticipation.

Yet, the creative momentum didn’t entirely stop. Later in 2025, Liu himself stepped into the spotlight, confirming that the script for the adaptation was finalized. This update signals a shift from development limbo to a more concrete stage, setting the groundwork for what might be the next phase of production.

Steering this project is Timo Tjahjanto, a filmmaker renowned for high-octane action, including films like Nobody 2 and The Night Comes For Us. Tjahjanto’s experience with choreographed mixed martial arts brings a unique edge that could lend serious physical intensity to the Hong Kong-set narrative.

Tjahjanto himself has been transparent about the process, acknowledging the time required for such a large undertaking. He noted that while it will take time, the goal is to create the best possible version of the story.

The source material itself grounds the adaptation in the world of Sleeping Dogs, a game heavily inspired by the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong, the game follows Wei Shen, a Chinese-American police officer and martial artist who must go undercover to infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad organization, using his skills and gadgets to navigate the city.

While Liu has successfully navigated other major cinematic milestones, such as his role in the Shang-Chi franchise and the upcoming MCU films like Avengers: Doomsday, this project demonstrates that even established stars can face the unpredictable nature of film production.

Ultimately, the story of Sleeping Dogs is less about a single release date and more about persistence—a testament to how creative visions evolve through challenges, waiting for the right moment to step onto the silver screen.