The highly anticipated television show, 3 Body Problem, from Game of Thrones’ creators David Benioff and Daniel Brett Weiss, is set to land on Netflix today.
The adaptation of Cixin Liu’s bestselling science fiction trilogy, Remembrance of Earth’s Past, premieres on Netflix today, under the title 3 Body Problem.
The series, titled after the first book in the trilogy, promises to be a mind-bending exploration of first contact with extraterrestrial life, societal upheaval, and the fight for human survival.
The story centres around a group of brilliant scientists whose lives become intertwined after a cryptic message is received from a distant civilisation on a chaotic three-sun planet called Trisolaris.
This message, a series of seemingly nonsensical numbers, sparks a global scientific debate and ignites a societal fracture.
One faction, the Wallfacers, welcomes the Trisolarans with open arms, believing their arrival will usher in a new era of scientific advancement. Opposing them are the Red Coast, a group of scientists convinced the message is a harbinger of doom, fearing that a civilisation from such a harsh environment would be inherently hostile. Caught in the middle is astrophysicist Wang Xiaojie, who becomes a central figure in the unfolding drama.
The series boasts a diverse international cast, with rising star Jess Hong portraying Wang Xiaojie. Alongside her are seasoned actors like Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Eiza González (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange). The showrunners, David and Daniel, known for their ambitious storytelling and epic visuals on Game of Thrones have promised to deliver a similarly grand spectacle with 3 Body Problem.
“The scope and size of it was really exciting,” said showrunner Alexander Woo in a recent interview.
“Having it rooted in a period of Chinese history was also really exciting.”
The series delves into the cultural revolution of China’s recent past, adding a layer of historical context and social commentary to the sci-fi narrative.
Whether the trio can successfully capture the essence of Cixin Liu’s masterpiece remains to be seen. But with its impressive cast, grand visuals, and exploration of weighty themes, 3 Body Problem is poised to be a landmark event for science fiction television.