Netflix’s new sci-fi epic 3 Body Problem features some significant changes from the books, but the cast thinks they’re necessary
Exclusive: The cast of Netflix’s š¦new sci-fi show opens up about adapting the "unadaptable" nāovel

Netflix’s new sci-fi show 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:3 Body Problem is an ambitious adaptation of Liu Cš ixin’s award-winning trilogy of novels, Ršemembrance of Earth's Past. Beginning with 'The Three-Body Problem', these take place in a fictional past, present, and future where Earth encounters extraterrestrial life.
Game of Thrones showrunners Davź¦id Benioff and D.B. Weiss, alongside True Blood’s Alexander Woo, are behind the adaptation of the books that were , and faced the daunting challenge of bringing them tšo the screen.
In a move to simplify the story, the 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:trioš„ altered some of the timelines, and locations, and brought in some new characters to this world. Among the biggest changes is the decision to unite the main characters together from an earlier stage, and shift them from China to Oxford in a significant departure fršom the novels.
While it may prove controversial with fans of the books, it’s a move thatš the cast of the new Netflix shį©į©į©į©į©į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤į©š±į©į©į©ow praises when speaking to GamesRadar+.
Jovan Adepo, who plays scientist Saul Durand in the TV show, says: "I think, what's really liberating, as you just said, is that it's an adaptation and this threat that our characters find themselves in, it's veāry much a global threat. So if that's the case, it would be interesting to kind of see how people in different countries, different cuāltures, different backgrounds, would all come together to experience this moment in time."
The actor, who is best known for The Leftovers and Babylon, adds that the changes meant that thāØe novel didn’t hang over āthem when filming the adaptation. "I think that that just opened up a lot of space for us to collaborate, which is also very refreshing because you just don't feel like you're stapled down to this to the spine of a person," he adds.
His co-star Jess Hong, who plays scientist Jin Cheng, agrees. "I think what's amazing about that is because in the books the world is so vast and there's all these different storylines happening everywhere," she explains. "So to bring it into eight episodes, that's a huge task aną“d I think that required a lot of centralizing."
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and rešviews to your inbox
The way around this in the series is the introduction of the Oxford Five, a group of scientists brought together when the scientific community comes under threat. "That's really the emotional core of this whole show," Hong adds. "It's a way for people to really relate to the central themes through human characters. So I think they've done that brillianātly."
Another member of this core group of scientists is Alex Sharp, who plays Will Downing, a character brought in earlier in this version oš“f the story. He adds to GR+ that while he still read the novels, he found his time working with the showrāunners to be the most useful in developing his character.
"As part of the research when you're signing onto something, of course, you read the books and try to gather as much information as you can," he adds. "But the show is different from the books and at a certain point for an actor – for me anyways – it becomes unhelpful to have too much in the forefront of your mš ind, trying to match something in a piāece of brilliant literature that's been adapted."
3 Body Problem begins as the group of scientists are brought back together for the funeral of one of their colleagues. As mysterious deaths in their community keep happening, an international investigation opens and uncovš¼ers a link to a terrifying decision made decades prior.
The show arrives in full on Netflix on March 21 and features some 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·šē åå²ę„询:Game ošf Thrones stars united on screen again. If you’re looking for more streaming inspiration, check out our guides to the 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:best Netflix movies and the 澳擲幸čæ5å¼å„å·ē åå²ę„询:best Netflix shows available right now.

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also𤔠written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.