Simu Liu’s latest update confirms the Sleeping Dogs movie is advancing, featuring a confirmed director, production partner and a script in draft form.
Production Milestones
Liu, who will star as undercover officer Wei Shen, disclosed on X that the film now has a director: Timo Tjahjanto, known for Nobody 2 and The Night Comes for Us.
The project is being co‑produced by Story Kitchen, a studio that specialises in adapting games to the screen. Those details were shared when a fan inquired about the film’s status.
The announcement also noted that the producers have secured the rights through negotiations with Square Enix, the company that released the original game and now supports the film’s development.
Script & Creative Direction
In a separate tweet, Liu celebrated that the screenplay has reached the draft stage—a milestone that places the film beyond the initial concept phase.
The draft was announced in October 2025, indicating that the narrative foundation and key beats are in place for the upcoming production.
Future Prospects
Although a release window remains unannounced, the project’s trajectory shows a clear path forward. Square Enix continues to greenlight other titles such as Kingdom Hearts 4 and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but the negotiations for the Sleeping Dogs adaptation are now in motion.
The past attempt, featuring Donnie Yen as Wei Shen, stalled after years of development; the current agreement suggests the studio has learned from those challenges.
With a director, production house, and script locked, the film holds the most realistic chance yet to bring the underrated action game to global audiences.
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