Home MoviesSleeping Dogs Film Finds Its Director – He’s Indonesian, Responsible for the Acclaimed ‘The Night Comes For Us’!

Sleeping Dogs Film Finds Its Director – He’s Indonesian, Responsible for the Acclaimed ‘The Night Comes For Us’!

by Sophie Laurent

Key Takeaways

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  • Timo Tjahjanto, known for his action-packed films such as The Shadow Strays and The Night Comes For Us, has been announced as the director for the upcoming film adaptation of the video game Sleeping Dogs.
  • Simu Liu, who voiced a character in the original game, is also attached to the project but the writer has yet to be revealed.
  • Tjahjantos reputation as an action film director makes him a promising choice for this long-awaited project, with his film The Night Comes For Us showcasing brutal and efficient action choreography that could translate well to the Sleeping Dogs adaptation.
  • The partnership between Liu and Tjahjanto suggests positive momentum, but the projects progress remains tentative with a first draft of the script completed and further development needed before filming can begin. A minor role for Will Yun Lee in the film could be meaningful to fans of the original game.

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Sleeping Dogs Film Finds Indonesian Director Timo Tjahjanto – Action-packed Adaptation of the 2013 Video Game in the Works!

As 2025 draws to a close, Simu Liu has announced that the film adaptation of the video game Sleeping Dogs has found its director: Timo Tjahjanto, known for films such as The Shadow Strays and The Night Comes For Us. Liu shared this news on his Twitter account. This announcement follows the completion of the script earlier in the year, resolving uncertainty about the project’s direction. While the writer for the adaptation has not yet been revealed, Tjahjanto’s rising reputation as an action film director makes him a promising choice for this long-awaited project. Notably, previous attempts to adapt Sleeping Dogs for the screen, with Donnie Yen attached to star, were unsuccessful. Tjahjanto also referenced the Sleeping Dogs film adaptation—based on the 2013 game of the same name—in a December 28, 2025, Instagram post featuring images with the text “NETO ATLAS” alongside a vulture, helmet, costume, bust, and gas mask. However, the post did not include new details about the film’s status. In response to previous concerns about the film’s stalled progress, Tjahjanto had sent a smiling GIF on Twitter.

Although relatively unknown to the general public, Tjahjanto is well-regarded by fans of Asian exploitation cinema. He gained Hollywood’s attention with The Night Comes For Us (2018), an Indonesian film starring Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais, which showcased brutal and efficient action choreography. With a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Night Comes For Us offers a glimpse into the potential on-screen translation of Sleeping Dogs’s close-quarters combat, raw violence, urban setting, and persistent tension. In addition to The Shadow Strays and The Night Comes For Us, Tjahjanto is also attached to direct Nobody 2, the sequel to the Bob Odenkirk action film, as well as The Beekeeper and a potential Hollywood follow-up to Train to Busan. The partnership between Liu and Tjahjanto suggests positive momentum, but the project’s progress remains tentative. With a first draft of the script completed and the lead actor and director attached, further development is needed before filming can begin. Simu Liu’s current industry standing may prove critical in realizing this adaptation.

Sleeping Dogs Film Casts Simu Liu and Will Yun Lee – A Nod to Fans of the Action-Packed Adaptation

Sleeping Dogs casts the player as Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Triads, who constantly risks having his cover blown. In the game, Wei Shen was voiced by Will Yun Lee, who has appeared in Altered Carbon and will appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. A minor role for Lee in the film could be meaningful to fans.

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Specification
Official NameUnknown
Brief SummaryA girl, troubled by thoughts of her future, fades into the overwhelming darkness of nighttime Istanbul
ReleasedMarch 9, 2025
Duration5 minutes
GenreMystery, Drama, Science Fiction
Countries of OriginTR
ActorsSinem Iscan, Ziyad AlSaleem, Assil Amjad, Kirill Bakhristov, Semyon Kasperovich
DirectorSemyon Kasperovich

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