Zhang Yimou To Direct ‘Three-Body Problem’ Film

Zac Ntim

17 June 2024 at 5:41 am·3-min read

A feature version of the buzzy Three-Body Problem sci-fi novels is in the works from veteran Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou.

Zhang will direct the film. The announcement was made by Wang Changtian, CEO of China’s Enlight Media, during the opening forum of the Shanghai International Film Festival this past weekend. He said the project is currently in the pre-production stage. Footage of the announcement has been shared widely across social media sites.

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enlight media chairman wang changtian announced at the opening forum of #SIFF that the movie version of “three-body,” that is co-developed by light chaser animation studios and three-body universe will be directed by zhang yimou. it’s currently in the pre-production stage pic.twitter.com/nw6SOLP2KR
— 🖼️ (@langyabangs) June 16, 2024

First published in 2008, The Three-Body Problem is the first novel in a series by Chinese novelist Liu Cixin. The popular novel has been a frequent source for adaptation, most recently at Netflix where Alexander Woo, David Benioff, and D.B. Weiss set their series adaptation.

The sci-fi drama tells the story of humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization. It follows a young woman, whose fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unflinching detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.

The show’s season 1 cast included Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Saamer Usmani, Benedict Wong, Jonathan Pryce, Rosalind Chao, Ben Schnetzer and Eve Ridley. Netflix announced earlier this year that the show will run for three seasons.

Woo co-created the series with Benioff and Weiss and is executive producer and writer. Executive producers also include Bernadette Caulfield, Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, Nena Rodrigue, Lin Qi, and Zhao Jilong as well as Brad Pitt, and Dede Gardner’s Plan B Entertainment and Jeremy Kleiner’s company along with Rosamund Pike and Robie Uniacke for Primitive Streak.

Zhang 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 credits include Red Sorghum (1987), which won the Golden Bear at Berlin. He has also directed 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. Outside filmmaking, he directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

Zhang spoke with us on the ground at last year’s Tokyo Film Festival. You can check out that interview here.

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