Following the Netflix series, Liu Cixin‘s bestselling sci-fi book The Three-Body Problem is being adapted into a feature film with the director confirmed. Yes, Chinese director Zhang Yimou (‘The Great Wall’) has been announced as the director.
During the opening forum of the Shanghai International Film Festival, it was announced that Yimou will be directing the ‘Three-Body Problem’ movie, which is currently in the post-production stage. Footage of the announcement was also widespread across social media platforms.
Three-Body Universe and Beijing Enlight Media Co., Ltd., a Chinese media production company are developing the film. Wang Changtian, chairman of Beijing Enlight Media, shared this news during a forum held on Sunday as part of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Based on the novels by Liu Cixin, The Three-Body Problem follows how a decision made by a young woman in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day, driving a group of scientists to join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront a major threat to humanity. The Netflix series debuted in March, spending three weeks in the No. 1 position on the Netflix Top 10, plus another four weeks lower on the chart. The cast includes Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Saamer Usmani, Benedict Wong, and Jonathan Pryce.
Zhang Yimou is one of China’s most enduring filmmakers, best known in the West for crossover titles such as 2016’s The Great Wall, set in Imperial China and starring Matt Damon. His other notable works include Red Sorghum (1987), which won the Golden Bear at Berlin, The Story of Qiu Ju (1992), To Live (1994), The Road Home (1999), House of Flying Daggers (2004), and Cliff Walkers (2021). He has won Venice’s Golden Lion twice. Beyond filmmaking, Zhang directed the opening and closing ceremonies of both the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
The Netflix show was recently renewed for a second season.
Source: Deadline