All 5 Adaptations Of 3 Body Problem Explained

Summary

• Multiple adaptations exist for Liu Cixin’s novel trilogy, with the Netflix series standing out with visually striking and immersive storytelling.
• The Chinese TV adaptation,
  Three-Body
  , is a faithful representation, but lacks the immersion of the Netflix series.
• An upcoming feature film directed by Zhang Yimou might lead to a global film trilogy competition with Netflix’s acclaimed
  3 Body Problem
  series.

Netflix’s 3 Body Problem is far from the only adaptation of Chinese science fiction author Liu Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth‘s Past trilogy. In fact, there are a total of five TV series and film adaptations — and likely more on the way. The Three-Body Problem, the first in Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy, was released in 2008 in China, followed by an English-language publication in 2014. The novel eventually won a Hugo Award for Best Novel, cementing its place in the literary science-fiction canon.

As in the Netflix series, the book straddles three time periods — past, present, and future — as an alien invasion of Earth nears. The alien species — called the San-Ti in the Netflix show — are forced to leave their homeworld and search for a viable planet. After making contact with a Ye Wenjie, a Chinese scientist on a remote military base during the 1960s, the extraterrestrials plot a course for Earth. Although their arrival is centuries off, it becomes increasingly clear that the San-Ti and humans cannot trust each other, pushing both sides to prepare for the inevitable conflict.

5 Three-Body

A Chinese TV Series Based On The Novel

Released in 2023, the 30-episode Three-Body is a Chinese television adaptation of the novel. Unlike the Netflix series, which changes the location of the series, the Chinese TV series is more true to the books’ setting and characters. A fairly well-reviewed series, Three-Body is currently streaming with English subtitles on both Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. While the show is perhaps a more faithful adaptation, it isn’t the most compelling translation of the novel. In particular, the 3 Body Problem‘s virtual reality game sequences aren’t as all-consuming and believable as they’re portrayed in the novel.

4 3 Body Problem

Netflix’s 2024 TV Series

Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the duo behind HBO’s Game of Thrones, as well as Alexander Woo, Netflix’s 3 Body Problem was a global hit when it released in 2024. Although the series changes its present-day setting — it swaps China for London, for the most part — as well as some of its characters — the all-Chinese cast changes in accordance with the new setting — the Netflix version is perhaps the most well-received adaptation. Visually striking, incredibly immersive, and a harrowing account of the Chinese Cultural Revolution time period, 3 Body Problem was rightly greenlit for a second season, which will adapt The Dark Forest book.

3 The Three-Body Problem In Minecraft

An Animated Series Made With Minecraft

The Three-Body Problem in Minecraft is exactly what it sounds like: an animated adaptation of the best-selling novel that uses video-game-style pixel art as well as compelling voicework to translate Liu Cixin​​​​​​​’s sci-fi series to the screen. The production team behind the labor-of-love project were fans of the source material, which means the animated series pays attention to all the rich detail of Cixin’s book. Available to watch in its entirety on YouTube, the Minecraft-looking adaptation remains one of the best.

2 The Three-Body Problem

A Chinese Anime Adaptation Based On The Dark Forest

A Chinese science fiction animated series based on The Dark Forest, the second book in the trilogy, The Three-Body Problem was produced by Bilibili and contains a whopping 15 episodes. Although it’s difficult to track down online, especially with English subtitles, The Three-Body Problem is well worth the watch. The beautiful animation, combined with the moving score, capture the novel’s emotional core that exists beneath the compelling science and the overwhelming dread. Richly imagined, the anime series aired between 2022–23, and deserves way more attention, especially ahead of 3 Body Problem season 2‘s Dark Forest adaptation.

1 Three-Body Problem

An Upcoming Feature-Length Film

An upcoming feature-length film, Three-Body Problem will be directed by celebrated Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou. While not too much has been revealed about the film adaptation, it will likely focus on the first book in the trilogy. If well-received, it could spawn an entire film trilogy — one that could compete on a global scale with Netflix’s acclaimed 3 Body Problem TV series.