Game of Thrones Creators Adapt Sci-Fi Epic The Three-Body Problem for Netflix

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, are adapting Liu Cixin's science-fiction novel The Three-Body Problem into a global English-language TV series for Netflix. The show, which is the first project Benioff and Weiss have undertaken for Netflix after signing a reported $200 million deal with the streaming service in 2019, will feature a diverse cast including Benedict Wong, John Bradley, and Zine Tseng.

The series aims to present an expansive world in an epic way, similar to recent sci-fi shows like Apple TV+'s Foundation and Invasion. While Netflix has not confirmed a second season, the showrunners have said they are already planning the storyline for season 2, as the series is based on the first book in a trilogy. The synopsis of the second book, The Dark Forest, suggests the series will continue to follow the events of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy if future seasons are commissioned.

Netflix's adaptation of The Three-Body Problem condenses the storyline from all three books into the first season, making several changes from the source material. The main character Wang Miao is split into three new characters - Auggie Salazar, Jack Rooney, and Jin Cheng. The alien faction is renamed from the 'Trisolarans' to the 'San Ti', and their perspective and motivations are made more villainous compared to the novels. The show also streamlines the cult known as the Earth Trisolaris Organization (ETO), removes internal conflicts between different factions, introduces the alien supercomputer weapons called Sophons earlier, and changes the virtual reality game mechanic.

Why this matters: The adaptation of The Three-Body Problem marks a significant foray into epic science fiction for Netflix, with the potential to capture the same global audience that made Game of Thrones a cultural phenomenon. The series also represents a major work of Chinese science fiction being brought to a wider English-language audience.

The Netflix adaptation explores themes of religion, faith, and the human need for a higher power more prominently than the original Chinese TV adaptation or the book. "The series features intentional religious imagery and symbolism, with characters grappling with the loss of faith in science and the emergence of a pro-alien cult that treats the Trisolarans as deities," said Benioff and Weiss. The 'Oxford Five' characters are presented as apostles of science, using their expertise to analyze and solve the problems presented by the Trisolarans. Overall, the series aims to condense and streamline the complex sci-fi narrative of Liu Cixin's novels for a global audience while delving into the interplay between science, religion, and humanity's search for meaning in the face of existential threats.

Key Takeaways

• David Benioff and D.B. Weiss adapt Liu Cixin's 'The Three-Body Problem' for Netflix.
• The series features a diverse cast and aims to present an expansive sci-fi world.
• The adaptation condenses the trilogy's storyline into the first season, with changes.
• The series explores themes of religion, faith, and humanity's search for meaning.
• The adaptation marks Netflix's foray into epic sci-fi with global audience potential.