3Body Problem is Netflix’s biggest series of the year and the new project from the Game of Thrones creators. We have all the information about the plot, the original and the cast of the “Oxford Five”.
3 Body Problem is the new major project from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. They are adapting the highly acclaimed and complex sci-fi novel series Trisolaris trilogy by Liu Cixin for Netflix. No series fan will be able to avoid this adaptation of the first volume, The Three Suns.
The budget is said to be 200 million US dollars, which would make it the most expensive sci-fi series and the most expensive Netflix series ever. Even the most expensive Netflix hit to date, One Piece, “only” made it to 144 million for the first season. 3 Body Problem is one of several series from Benioff and Weiss’ mega-deal with Netflix
In this article you will find all the information you need about 3 Body Problem:
Start date
Plot
Original The Three Suns
trailer
Cast
Starting date: The 1st season of 3 Body Problem is available in its entirety on Netflix
Season 1 of 3 Body Problem was released in its entirety on Netflix on March 21, 2024. Originally scheduled for January 2024, the season was postponed again by a few weeks.
If you want to watch another film adaptation of The Three Suns, we can recommend the much more lengthy adaptation Three Body, which is even streaming in Germany.
There was also some confusion about the title before the launch, but Netflix decided on the spelling 3 Body Problem. Due to the different English and German titles of the original book, the titles Die 3 Sonnen, Die drei Sonnen and Three Body Problem were also circulating among those looking forward to it. Incidentally, the aforementioned 3-Sun Problem refers to the fact that with three suns in a single solar system, no correct orbit can be calculated.
Plot explained: This is what the sci-fi series 3 Body Problem is about
In the official plot, Netflix doesn’t want to give away too much of the complex story. What’s on Netflix writes:
A young woman’s fateful decision in China in the 1960s echoes through time and space to a brilliant group of scientists in the present day. As the laws of nature begin to shift before their eyes, five former colleagues join forces to confront the greatest threat in human history.
We can of course still give you a more concrete insight into 3 Body Problem without spoiling anything.
The original book is told with many flashbacks, flash-forwards and a story in the present. The series also begins chronologically in China in 1966 during the bloody Cultural Revolution. Astrophysicist Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng) is forced to witness the public execution of her father and loses all faith in humanity. This leads her to make a decision at a secret research station that puts the survival of the entire human race at risk.
(3 Body Problem)
The second storyline of the series adaptation takes place in London in 2024. A series of mysterious suicides of important scientists take place here. It probably has something to do with the fact that various research results around the world suddenly no longer make sense. Intelligence Officer Da Shi (Benedict Wong) investigates and soon comes across a clique of scientists he calls the “Oxford Five”, each of whom has an important task to fulfill.
Who are the “Oxford Five”?
Auggie Salazar (Eiza González)
Jin Cheng (Jess Hong)
Saul Drand (Jovan Adepo)
Jack Rooney (John Bradley)
Will Downing (Alex Sharp)
If you want to know more and be spoiled, you can read the sprawling original. However, large parts were changed for the series.
Model: Is the Chinese novel trilogy available in German?
The series is based on the so-called Trisolaris trilogy by Liu Cixin from 2006. A German translation has been available since 2017. The trilogy consists of the following volumes:
The Three Suns
The Dark Forest
Beyond time
It is one of the best-known Chinese sci-fi book series. The author himself speaks very highly of the adaptation and has “the greatest respect” for the creative team at Netflix. He works closely with series creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, who created the series adaptation in collaboration with screenwriter Alexander Woo.
(3 Body Problem is that a trisolar?)
By the way, there is already a movie adaptation of his bestseller and you can stream the other The Three Suns series for free.
The trailers give you an insight into the action of 3 Body Problem
The first teaser trailer for Netflix’s 3 Body Problem is packed with great visuals. But be careful, don’t believe everything you see
Much of it takes place in the aforementioned virtual reality game.
Netflix has also released a long trailer for 3 Body Problem, in which we are drawn even further into the sci-fi mystery:
Cast: 3 Body Problem on Netflix features several Game of Thrones stars
The Hollywood Reporter lists the 12 main cast members and among them are familiar (Game of Thrones) faces. In alphabetical order:
Alex Sharp (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange, The Martian)
Eiza González (Ambulance, Baby Driver)
Jess Hong (Inked)
John Bradley (Game of Thrones, Moonfall)
Jovan Adepo (Watchmen, When They See Us)
Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, The Guard)
Marlo Kelly (Don’t You Dare)
Saamer Usmani (Succession, What/If)
Sea Shimooka (Arrow)
Tsai Chin (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Geisha)
Zine Tseng
Liam Cunningham was prominently featured in Game of Thrones as Davos Seaworth. He has nothing but good things to say about his then and now showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff. In an interview with Collider, he praises the script to the skies:
‘It always comes down to the quality of the writing, and these guys deliver some of the best I’ve read in my life. And I was with the Royal Shakespeare Company for a year and a half.
Cunningham himself has never read the books for Game of Thrones or 3 Body Problem. For him, only the script counts. His Game of Thrones colleague John Bradley also raves about Weiss and Benioff, writes Hollywood Reporter .
All those who slammed the two after the Game of Thrones finale will reconsider their opinion after 3 Body Problem.
3 Body Problem also came off pretty well with the critics. The Game of Thrones makers seem to have scored another hit. Instead of dragons and political intrigue, this time it’s VR doomsday and astrophysics.
