Netflix has officially unveiled plans to create an English-language series based on the acclaimed Three-Body Problem trilogy by Chinese author Liu Cixin, also known as Remembrance of Earth’s Past. Among the creative minds behind this adaptation are David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, known for their work on Game of Thrones, alongside Rian Johnson, the writer-director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Benioff and Weiss are set to co-write the series with Alexander Woo, noted for his work on The Terror: Infamy and True Blood, while Johnson will take on the role of executive producer. Cixin will contribute as a consulting producer, joined by Ken Liu, who was pivotal in translating the novels into English.
The Three-Body Problem, the story of humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization inspired by @cixinliu‘s renowned novel, will be adapted as a Netflix series from David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo. pic.twitter.com/Dily05j2Vw
Browse Posts— NX (@NXOnNetflix) September 1, 2020
This adaptation marks the first project under Benioff and Weiss’ lucrative Netflix deal, reportedly valued at $200 million, which was announced in August 2020. Their departure from the Star Wars franchise has led them to pursue this new venture, transitioning from the vast realms of Game of Thrones to an equally expansive narrative that spans from the 1960s to the distant future. The storyline will explore humanity’s confrontation with the Trisolarans, an alien civilization, through a unique structure incorporating flashbacks and flash-forwards.
The Three-Body Problem trilogy, first published in Mandarin in 2008 and translated into English in 2014, has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel. The narrative was followed by sequels: The Dark Forest, published in Mandarin in 2008 and in English in 2015, and Death’s End, released in China in 2010 and worldwide in 2016. The latter book received the Locus Award for Best Sci-Fi Novel and was a finalist for the Hugo Awards.
In addition to the primary creative team, several other producers have joined the project, including Bernadette Caulfield, president of Benioff and Weiss’ production company; Ram Bergman, Johnson’s collaborator; and Nena Rodrigue, T-Street’s head of TV, along with representatives from Yoozoo Group and The Three-Body Universe, including chairman Lin Qi and vice president Zhao Jilong. Additionally, Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Rosamund Pike’s Primitive Streak are participating in the adaptation process.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Cixin remarked, “I have the greatest respect for and faith in the creative team adapting The Three-Body Problem for television audiences. I set out to craft a story that transcends time and borders, compelling us to contemplate the fate of humanity as a whole. It is an immense honor to see this unique science fiction narrative reaching audiences across the globe, and I am eager for both new and existing fans to experience it on Netflix.”
Benioff and Weiss emphasized their excitement in their joint statement: “Liu Cixin’s trilogy is the most ambitious science-fiction series we’ve read, taking readers on a journey from the 1960s until the end of time, from life on our pale blue dot to the distant fringes of the universe. We look forward to spending the next years of our lives bringing this to life for audiences around the world.”
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