Big news for fans of hit sci-fi kicking off with The Three Body Problem: the books are now in development as a series by Game Of Thrones duo David Benioff and DB Weiss, filmmaker Rian Johnson and The Terror's Alexander Woo.
Author Liu Cixin, and Ken Liu, who translated the text, are both involved as consultants on the series, which will attempt to cram in the story without viewers' heads exploding. The first book in what is known as the Remembrance Of Earth's Past trilogy tells the story of Ye Wenjie, a woman who is so disgusted by humanity after witnessing the injustices of the Cultural Revolution that she hijacks a government program meant to make contact with aliens and attempts to encourage extraterrestrials to invade Earth. In a near future, a scientist and a police detective uncover the results of her actions: A secret organization is collaborating with hostile extraterrestrials to help them take over the planet.
This isn't the first adaptation for the trilogy – several have been in the works in both China and the US, with Amazon at one point looking to splash a cool billion for the rights and aims to make a three-season show. Now, though, it's Netflix's baby, at least in the West.
"I have the greatest respect for and faith in the creative team adapting The Three-Body Problem for television audiences,” says author Liu Cixin in a statement. “I set out to tell a story that transcends time and the confines of nations, cultures and races; one that compels us to consider the fate of humankind as a whole. It is a great honor as an author to see this unique sci-fi concept travel and gain fandom across the globe and I am excited for new and existing fans all over the world to discover the story on Netflix."
Benioff and DB Weiss have some experience bringing sprawling tomes to the screen, and at least this one has an ending in place. "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," says the pair. "We look forward to spending the next years of our lives bringing this to life for audiences around the world."
And finally, here's Woo: "It’s a privilege to be adapting one of the great masterpieces of Chinese science-fiction. The Three-Body Problem trilogy combines so many things I love: rich, multi-layered characters and true existential stakes - all told as an elegant and deeply human allegory. I’m thrilled to kick off my partnership with Netflix with this accomplished creative team."
Can this work? Will the more problematic issues of the book be smoothed out? And are the more complex scientific concepts easily translatable to TV? We may yet find out...