Based on the current chatter online, itโs safe to say a considerable demographic within the television-watching population still isnโt ready to forgive David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for how they handled Game of Thrones season 8. But redemption may soon be within reach thanks to the duoโs wildly ambitious Netflix series โ The Three-Body Problem โ which theyโve written and executive produced in collaboration with fellow HBO veteran Alexander Woo (True Blood).
While a trailer has yet to hit the cyberspace, a first look at this American adaptation of Liu Cixinโs acclaimed science-fiction novel was recently unveiled during the Netflix Tudum event. As Alexander Woo explains, the story involves a โhistory of humanity from the point of first contact with an alien civilisation all the way to the end of the universe.โ Although anyone whoโs read the book will (smugly) tell you itโs a little more complicated than thatโฆ
RELATED: Why Arenโt More People Talking About HBOโs โIndustryโ?
Set against the backdrop of Chinaโs Cultural Revolution, The Three-Body Problem begins when a secret military project beams signals into space. The objective? Establishing contact with extra-terrestrial life. Soon after, their wish is granted when an alien civilisation โon the brink of destructionโ intercepts the transmissionโฆ with the intention of invading Earth. Among the humans, different camps form: some welcoming the superior species with the view our world is irredeemably corrupt and beyond saving; some dedicated to fighting against the coming invasion.
โLiu Cixinโs novels are some of the most ambitious storytelling Iโve ever encountered, we were awed by the sheer breadth and scope of them,โ said David Benioff.
โThe thing that drew us to these books were events on a scale that we had never thought about before,โ added D.B. Weiss.
RELATED: โBetter Call Saulโ Creator Reunites With Rhea Seehorn For New Drama Series
Netflixโs The Three-Body Problem has reunited Benioff and Weiss with Thrones alum John Bradley, AKA Samwell Tarly, and Liam Cunningham, AKA Ser Davos the Onion Knight. Other members of the cast include Benedict Wong (The Martian, Doctor Strange), Eiza Gonzalez (Baby Driver, Ambulance), Jovan Adepo (Tom Clancyโs Jack Ryan, Watchmen), Jess Hong (Inked), Zine Tseng (On A Whim), Alex Sharp (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Saamer Usmani (Succession) โ as well as rising Aussie star Marlo Kelly, who you may have encountered in Home & Away, Dare Me, and Peacockโs Joe vs Carole.
The Three-Body Problem โ which has just wrapped production and is currently scheduled to arrive in streaming queues sometime in early 2023 โ represents the first project of David Benioff and D.B. Weissโ $200 million multi-year Netflix deal, inked back in 2019. Given the formerโs proven track record when it comes to spinning entertainment gold from beloved literature (letโs not ignore the seven seasons before Game of Thrones went sideways) and the latterโs proclivity for throwing cash around, Iโd say the partnership is already off to a flying start.
Stay tuned for updates on Netflixโs The Three-Body Problem (release date, trailer, etc.) โ and check out the featurette below.
RELATED: The Good News? โHouse Of The Dragonโ Season 3 Has Pretty Much Been Confirmed
