Picture: 3 Body Problem – Bighead Littlehead
The long-awaited English adaptation of Liu Cixin’s mind-bending novel 3 Body Problem is now available on Netflix. With three books in the trilogy, showrunners co-show runner and co-creator David Benioff has already discussed plans for a second season. But after a slower-than-expected first four days, will Netflix renew the $20 million per episode 3 Body Problem for a second season? Let’s find out.
3 Body Problem is a Netflix Original sci-fi drama series created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo. It is based on the novel by Chinese author Liu Cixin. Benioff and Weiss are also showrunners and executive producers on the series.
An army of producers are behind the project, with 26 listed, including 19 listed executive or co-executive producers. Some of the executive producers on the list are Rosamund Pike, Brad Pitt, Rian Johnson, Bernadette Caulfield, and Alexander Woo.
Let’s dig into season 2 prospects and what you can expect going into any potential season 2:
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Has and Will Netflix renew 3 Body Problem for a second season?
Netflix Renewal Status: Pending (Last Updated: 27/03/2024)
Our Renewal Prediction: Too Early to Call
At the time of writing, Netflix has yet to renew 3 Body Problem for a second season. Judging from everything we’ve heard, the renewal will heavily rely on the show’s overall performance, for which we only have one week’s worth (more on this below).
If the series’ creators, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, have anything to say about it, then a second season will happen. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Benioff explained how a scene we could see in the second season of 3 Body Problem could be the show’s equivalent of Game of Thrones Red Wedding;
“At our first Comic-Con [for Game of Thrones], someone asked if we’re going to get a second season.” I remember saying there’s a scene that would happen in season three — I didn’t even want to name it, but ‘RW, for people who know — if we can get there, I think we’re going to be OK. And there’s a scene in the second season [of 3 Body Problem] that I feel is — it’s not the Judgment Day scene [in season one] — it’s one that happens in the second season … things wildly escape, and there’s one scene, if we get to it, we’re golden — like when we got to the Red Wedding on Thrones.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: Alexander Woo, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff attend the Los Angeles debut of Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” at NYA WEST on March 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Benioff further elaborated on his thoughts about Liu CIxen’s trilogy and what a second season would mean;
“It’s something we’ve talked about with the Netflix guys, too. Liu Cixin’s created this indelible trilogy and the books just get better for me. The second book is far better than the first, and the third book just completely blew my mind. The story just gets more and more ambitious as it goes, and it takes a huge leap in book two. So I feel like if we survive to the second season, we’re going to be in a good place.”
Benioff’s words, “If we survive to the second season,” suggest that Netflix has not guaranteed a renewal. This means the hope of renewal may rely heavily on the show’s opening several weeks. Given that each episode costs roughly $20 million, and if the second season is seen as even more “ambitious,” those costs could rise significantly. Without a sizeable audience, Netflix will find it hard to justify the costs of a second season.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: David Benioff speaks onstage during Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” Los Angeles Screening Event at Nya Studios on March 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for Netflix)
Given that there are three books in total, there would have always been a plan for three seasons as long as the series performs.
Picture: Liu Cixin’s 3 Body Problem trilogy – Head of Zeus (Publisher)
How has 3 Body Problem performed so far?
In the first four days on Netflix, 3 Body Problem amassed 11 million complete viewing equivalents. The complete viewing equivalent number is extracted by dividing the total number of hours viewed by the total runtime in hours.
When we benchmark 3 Body Problem, we see that it hasn’t had the strongest start, debuting among other shows such as 1899, FUBAR, and Resident Evil.
With a $20 million per episode price tag, the second week will need significant improvement. We’ll have lots more to say and track with the performance of the show in the coming weeks.
What can we expect from 3 Body Problem season 2?
Why is Saul Durand so important?
As one of only three Wallfacers, Saul Durand has been specially selected to help humanity in their fight against the San-Ti. Saul and others are still determining why he has been chosen as one of the Wallfacers, and initially, Saul attempts to reject the position. However, after an assassination attempt on Saul fails, the Secretary General of the UN discusses with him why it doesn’t matter whether or not he sees himself as a Wallfacer but, more importantly, what the people believe and how everyone owes it to their descendants to give themselves a fighting chance against the Shan-Ti.
What makes Saul so important has yet to be revealed. However, we do know that Vera Ye gave him extremely high praise, acknowledging that he has the most potential out of “The Oxford Five.” Despite not having a love for physics, his natural problem-solving ability could be key to helping humanity defeat the Shan-Ti.
Picture: Jovan Adepo as Saul Durand – Bighead Littlehead
Will Thomas Wade betray humanity?
Thomas Wade is ruthless in his approach to dealing with the Shan-Ti problem, and his track record speaks for itself, with many of his high-risk operations resulting in resounding victories for his agency. At the end of the first season, Wade is confronted by the Shan-Ti, who makes him aware that he is a part of their plan and that there is a place for him when they arrive. They also make it painfully aware that they could kill Wade at a moment’s notice.
Wade is stubborn as he is ruthless, but he would likely place his life below the survival of the human race. However, if the Shan-Ti can damage him psychologically, then there is always a chance that Wade could be swayed to their side, to which he would be a deadly adversary of humanity.
Picture: Liam Cunningham as Thomas Wade – Bighead Littlehead
What is Tatiana’s place amongst the Shan-Ti?
One of Shan-Ti’s most dedicated followers, Tatiana, is rewarded for her loyalty and now has access to one of the previously gifted headsets to Jack and Jin. What this means remains to be determined, as the game’s purpose was to allow the Shan-Ti to recruit like-minded individuals to aid them on their journey to Earth.
Humanity now knows about the Shan-Ti, and Tatiana remains the last known member of the organization of Shan-Ti followers established by Mike Evans and Ye Wenjie. Her true purpose in the Shan-Ti may be to sow discord among humanity and recruit other like-minded individuals to the cause. While the Sophons are extremely versatile and a dangerous tool of the Shan-Ti, what is arguably even more dangerous would be an underground movement of Shan-Ti worshippers ready to act against humanity at a moment’s notice, sabotaging any potential threats the Sophon couldn’t carry out themselves.
Picture: Marlo Kelly as Tatiana
Will we see Will ever again?
Sadly, for all involved, Project Staircase was a failure. Without intervention, what remains of Will and the spacecraft will wander endless deep space forever. With the Shan-Ti on their way to Earth, is there a chance that the strange alien race could find a way to the spacecraft and extract Will from it?
They made it clear to Thomas Wade their disappointment with Project Staircase’s failure. Considering the lengths and technology used in their endeavor to Earth, one of the Shan-Ti ships could intercept Will’s spacecraft.
Can we expect to see a time skip?
Given that hibernation technology is in full development, we’ll likely see a time skip if other characters besides Thomas Wade join him. What the world could look like and the advancements made after decades or even a century or two will be exciting.
Picture: Sea Shimooka as Sophon – Bighead Littlehead
When could we expect the second season of 3 Body Problem on Netflix?
Filming for 3 Body Problem began years ago. In fact, production only got underway on season 1 back in early November 2021 and ended sometime in September 2022. That means there was a gap of 28 months between filming starting and the 3 Body Problem release on Netflix. Naturally, this was shot during COVID-19, which no doubt put in delays, but either way, it’s a big production.
The second book has already been described as significantly more ambitious than the first. Whether this would increase the second season’s production length remains unclear, but it is not implausible.
Regardless, subscribers may have to wait until 2026 for the release of 3 Body Problem season 2 on Netflix with 2025 only possible should the series get underway relatively quickly.
Would you like to see a second season of 3 Body Problem on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!