Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss just announced their next TV project: The Three-Body Problem.
Once again, this series will be adapted from a book series. But this time, Benioff and Weiss are leaning into sci-fi rather than fantasy.
“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,” Benioff and Weiss said in a statement. “We look forward to spending the next years of our lives bringing this to life for audiences around the world.”
Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem trilogy depicts humanity’s first contact with aliens. The first in the series earned wide accolades during its initial publishing in China in 2008. The success led to a translated version making its way to the US. Here, it became the first Asia novel to win a Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2014.
The title The Three-Body Problem refers to the physics problem of computing the trajectory of three objects (bodies) interacting with one another. (The series takes place on an Earth-like planet affected by three different stars.)
Who’s making The Three-Body Problem?
After an apparent bidding war with Amazon Studios, Netflix landed the project.
Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s VP of original series, issued a statement discussing his excitement for the series.
“The first time I read The Three-Body Problem trilogy, it changed what science fiction meant to me forever,” he said. “Although it may seem like a familiar premise — the story of humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization — Chinese author Liu Cixin’s ability to interweave science with fiction made his vision of the future and extra-terrestrial contact feel more realistic than any other science fiction I’ve read.”
Friedlander also praised the creative team.
“Every person involved not only shares a passion and high esteem for the books, but also the creative vision and ambition to help bring this remarkable story to life for audiences around the world,” said Friedlander.
Liu Cixin and Ken Liu (the book’s English translator) will serve as consulting producers on the series. Additionally, a host of big-name executive producers already back the project. Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and Bernadette Caulfield (Game of Thrones) are on board. Plus, Brad Pitt via Plan B Entertainment and Rosamund Pike via Primitive Steak production company also executive produce.
Benioff and Weiss previously signed an overall deal with Netflix. In addition to The Three-Body Problem, they produce Netflix’s upcoming dramedy The Chair starring Sandra Oh.
Check back to That Hashtag Show for more updates on titles coming to Netflix.
Source: Netflix
