Netflix Adapts the Unadaptable: Bringing ‘3 Body Problem’ to Life

The Enigma of “3 Body Problem”: A Sci-Fi Epic Comes to Life

In the opening pages of Cixin Liu’s “3 Body Problem,” a perplexing mystery unfolds: Scientists are inexplicably taking their own lives. But this is merely the tip of the iceberg in a sprawling narrative that encompasses a cryptic VR game, flashbacks to China’s revolutionary past, enigmatic billionaires, and bizarre cults.

The Physics at the Heart of the Story

At its core, however, the novel is a celebration of physics. Liu’s works, cherished in China and gaining a devoted following among English-language readers, are quintessential hard science fiction—prioritizing concept over character. The series is replete with scenes that seem to defy cinematic adaptation: multidimensional structures imploding, a computer composed of millions of soldiers, nano-wires slicing through steel, diamond, and flesh.

The Challenge of Adaptation

For showrunners D. B. Weiss, David Benioff, and Alexander Woo, translating Liu’s vision to the screen was a formidable undertaking. Woo, a veteran of HBO’s “True Blood,” and Benioff and Weiss, renowned for their adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” into the television phenomenon “Game of Thrones,” faced the daunting task of bringing Liu’s intricate world to life.

The Ingredients for Success

Despite the potential apprehension surrounding Benioff and Weiss’s involvement, given the divisive reception to the final seasons of “Game of Thrones,” “3 Body Problem” possesses all the elements that made the early seasons of the fantasy saga so captivating: awe-inspiring set pieces, a tapestry of interpersonal conflict, and an existential threat steadily approaching.

The Allure of the Unadaptable

In an interview with WIRED, the showrunners discussed the allure of adapting a series once deemed impossible to translate to the screen.

For me, there were so many scenes in the books that I read and thought, “I really want to see this.” Throughout the whole trilogy there are so many scenes that are thrilling to read, but also as a TV writer and producer deeply intimidating, because you’re thinking, how are we going to show multiple dimensions on screen? How is that going to work?

Benioff elaborated on the haunting nature of the story, drawing parallels to his experience with Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

Filling in the Gaps

One of the challenges the showrunners faced was the concept-driven nature of Liu’s writing, which often left characters underdeveloped. Drawing inspiration from the character-driven works of Golden Age science fiction authors like Robert Heinlein, the team set out to flesh out the characters and their relationships.

There are characters that plot-wise do really interesting things, but in terms of their history and relationship to the other characters we almost needed to fill them with a new backstory. We needed to create a different person and put them in the “plot skin.”

Balancing Science and Entertainment

Another hurdle was striking a balance between staying true to the intricate scientific concepts in the novels and ensuring the show remained accessible and entertaining. As non-physicists themselves, the showrunners relied on the expertise of two science consultants—a particle physicist and a rocket scientist—to help them present the ideas in a digestible manner.

Ideally, in a television show you won’t have to do that: The whole show just flows in front of you, and the idea is presented in a way that you can digest whether you’re a physicist or not.

Diverging from the Source Material

When asked about the freedom to diverge from the books, given their slightly lower profile compared to “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the showrunners emphasized the importance of doing what they believed was right for the series, even if it meant deviating from the text.

I can’t remember ever consciously thinking, “Well we can’t do that because fans are going to get annoyed.” You do it anyway if you think that’s what’s right for the show.

As “3 Body Problem” prepares to make its debut, fans of the novels and newcomers alike eagerly await the realization of Liu’s epic vision on the small screen, guided by the steady hands of Benioff, Weiss, and Woo.