'Game of Thrones' Showrunners Sign on for Netflix Adaptation of the 'Three-Body Problem'

Originally serialized in Science Fiction World in 2006, and then published as a book in 2008, Cixin Liu’s The Three-Body Problem has since become one of the most famous sci-fi books to come out of China, and is the first Asian novel to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel. Originally published in Chinese, it was later translated into English and has enjoyed a great deal of popularity in the West. Fans of the book, and the subsequent sequels may be aware that Netflix is currently working on an adaptation of the novel, and it has now been announced that David Benioff and D B Weiss, the creators of the HBO show Game of Thrones, have signed on to help adapt the novel.

The Three-Body Problem is a trilogy that consists of The Three-Body Problem (2015), The Dark Forest (2015) and Death’s End (2018). The author is involved with the adaptation and will serve as a consulting producer, alongside Ken Liu, who provided the English translation of the novels, and who’s work was widely praised.

As The Bookseller reports, Benioff and Weiss stated: “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.”

Cixin Liu added: “I have the greatest respect for and faith in the creative team adapting The Three-Body Problem for television audiences. 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.”

Based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Game of Thrones became a cultural phenomenon, and was extremely well reviewed by critics upon its debut on HBO. However, many felt that the final season failed to live up to the overall quality of the show, and no doubt fans of Liu’s books will be anxious for the Netflix adaptation to get it right.