Sleeping Dogs Movie Director Timo Tjahjanto Explains Slow Development: 'We're Taking Our Time'

The long-gestating film adaptation of the cult-classic video game Sleeping Dogs remains in development, but director Timo Tjahjanto (Nobody 2) says the slow pace is deliberate. In a recent post on X/Twitter, Tjahjanto explained that he and star Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) are carefully crafting the story of undercover cop Wei Shen, who infiltrates a Hong Kong triad. 'Trying to stay as loyal to Wei Shen's tale while adding layers to make the narrative more fitting into a feature film is not an easy task,' Tjahjanto wrote. 'We're taking our time to make the best version of Sleeping Dogs the movie.' The 2012 game, developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix, is known for its Hong Kong action cinema influences and open-world gameplay. While no release date or production start has been announced, the director's comments signal that the project is still alive. Fans of the game have waited years for a live-action adaptation, and Tjahjanto's commitment to fidelity and narrative depth may reassure them. The film's progress mirrors other video game adaptations stuck in development, such as the Ghost of Tsushima movie from director Chad Stahelski, which has also faced delays. For now, Sleeping Dogs remains a passion project in slow motion, with Liu and Tjahjanto determined to get it right.