Since March 21, 2024, the science fiction series 3 Body Problem on Netflix has been showing us an alien invasion from a completely new perspective. In the new series from the makers of Game of Thrones, the alien San-Ti will only land on Earth in 400 years. After eight episodes, the epic story is far from over – and the invaders’ fleet is still far, far away.
Here you will find all the important answers:
Will there be a second season of 3 Body Problem? When might it start on Netflix? And what does the end of season 1 and the book reveal about how the conflict with the San-Ti could continue?
When is 3 Body Problem Season 2 coming to Netflix?
The disappointing news first: so far 3 Body Problem not yet renewed for season 2. As a rule, Netflix first assesses the development of audience numbers in the first few weeks after launch before making a judgment. This can take up to two months. With Avatar, for example, things went much faster.
Even if the sci-fi series is renewed in the coming weeks, fans will have to be prepared for a huge wait. Based on the production effort of the first episodes, season 2 should 2026 at the earliest appear on Netflix.
Not on Netflix: Another 3 Body Problem sequel is already in the works
Netflix has lost the race for the first series adaptation of Cixin Liu’s sci-fi novel The Three Suns. It started in China at the beginning of 2023 Film adaptation Three Body at the start, which is a very close implementation of the original with 30 episodes – more than three times as long as the Netflix adaptation.
In contrast to the Netflix version, the Chinese series has already been extended for the second season. Not only is there a sequel in the works based on the second novel The Dark Forest, but also a spin-off series about the character Da Shi (played by Benedict Wong in the Netflix series). However, these projects should also 2026 at the earliest appear.
What’s next in season 2?
Warning, spoilers: Even if 3 Body Problem does a few things differently than the original book, the adaptation remains true to the most important developments in sci-fi history. At the end of the first eight episodes, some of the course was already set for season 2.
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Saul Durand gets a lot to do as a wall shower
After season 1 is based on the novel The Three Suns, the next season is based on the follow-up volume The Dark Forest. Some events from the second book of the Trisolaris trilogy were already implemented in the finale.
Here’s how the ending of 3 Body Problem sets up the Netflix sequel
A large part of the plot of The Dark Forest is taken up by the so-called wall shower project. We get to know this in season 1. These are several people selected by the UN who secretly work out solutions to the conflict with the San-Ti (in the book: Trisolarians). They are not allowed to share their plans with anyone in order to outwit the omnipresent surveillance of the alien Sophons.
In the template, the four wall-watchers were named Frederick Tyler, Manuel Rey Diaz, Bill Hines and Luo Ji. In the Netflix series there are only three: Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo), the Kurdish war heroine Leyla Ariç (Salem Murphy) and the Chinese general Hu Bo Lin (Clem Cheung). The main character Saul is a variation of the fictional character Luo Ji.
Spoiler part: This is what the template The Dark Forest for Season 2 reveals
What the Netflix series hasn’t revealed yet: The alien sympathizers pose so-called wall viewers Wall breaker who are supposed to find out their plans and destroy them. But that’s not all that The Dark Forest has to say.
Without major spoilers: The development of human society in the face of the alien crisis comes more into focus. The plot also jumps further into the futurewhich moves the story even more into the science fiction genre.
Fans of the original can expect that season 2 will not be a direct adaptation of the novel The Dark Forest, but will also contain elements from it final book, Beyond Time, will bring in. With Jin Cheng (Jess Hong), we already met the protagonist of book 3 in the first season.
Podcast for Netflix’s epic sci-fi series 3 Body Problem
Have the Game of Thrones makers achieved their next big success with 3 Body Problem? In the podcast we discussed Netflix’s sci-fi series extensively and without spoilers:
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3 Body Problem is the adaptation of one of the most exciting science fiction works of recent years: The Trisolaris trilogy by Chinese author Cixin Liu. In the podcast we clarify whether the series can delight sci-fi fans and whether the drastic changes to the original were really necessary.