Sleeping Dogs, the open-world game reminiscent of GTA, moves closer to a film adaptation with director confirmed by Simu Liu.

Simu Liu, known for his roles in Shang-Chi and Kim’s Convenience, has confirmed that the long-anticipated film adaptation of the cult classic game Sleeping Dogs is making progress, with a director now on board.

For those unfamiliar, Sleeping Dogs, released in 2012, is a visually stunning crime thriller that draws inspiration from the GTA series, set against the vibrant backdrop of Hong Kong. Despite receiving critical acclaim, it struggled with sales, which dashed hopes for a sequel. Liu has been vocal about his desire to bring this game to the big screen in recent years.

During a recent Q&A session promoting his upcoming show The Copenhagen Test, Liu revealed that Timo Tjahjanto will be directing the film. Tjahjanto is recognized for his work in action cinema, including the well-received sequel Nobody 2, featuring Bob Odenkirk, which has garnered positive reviews. He also directed The Night Comes For Us, known for its expertly choreographed martial arts sequences that fans of Sleeping Dogs would appreciate.

“I’m excited to be developing SLEEPING DOGS with Simu Liu,” Tjahjanto tweeted. “We both are hungry and passionate about the material and have plenty to prove. It’s no secret that both TNCFU and The Shadow Strays drew inspiration from Sleeping Dogs; I even created a character in TSS inspired by SD, right down to his name. This will take time, but we’ll make the best version of it, cleaver, chopsticks and all.”

With a director secured, a completed script, and a prominent actor attached to star and produce, the project is gaining momentum. Although a Hollywood studio has yet to pick it up, Liu is determined to see this film come to life.

In the meantime, fans can dive into the MCU movies in order.