3 Body Problem season 2: everything we know so far about the hit Netflix show’s return
3 Body Problem season 2: key information
– Renewed for season 2 and 3 in May 2024
– Filming yet to commence
– Predict the main cast members will return
– No trailer to share just yet
– No official plot details released, but follows Liu’s trilogy
– Season 1 finale lays out potential story threads
– Season 3 will be the show’s conclusion
Intense sci-fi 3 Body Problem is a stellar example of how Netflix, one of the best streaming services, executes an impressive foray into the genre. The show is adapted from Cixin Liuâs Remembrance of Earthâs Past trilogy into the English-language and itâs truly a vast and complicated book series to transform to TV, but itâs in the best of hands.
Spearheaded by Game of Thronesâ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, alongside True Bloodâs Alexander Woo, the trio tackled season 1âs alternate reality through a VR headset with ambitious scope, an impending alien invasion, and the complexities of how different people cope with such nearing fate.
In the books, a scientist makes contact with an alien race, the San-Ti, in Beijing. In the best Netflix show, the âOxford Fiveâ, a group of scientists and friends, make contact in London. Fortunately, they discover that the San-Tiâs journey to Earth will take 400 years, but on whose timeline? For our timeline at least, weâre keen for another season before four centuries pass, and luckily we wonât have to wait that long. Seemingly, not too long at all. Hereâs everything we know about 3 Body Problem season 2.
Full spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 2.
3 Body Problem season 2 release date prediction
3 Body Problem has been renewed! Netflix will bring this epic story through its mind-blowing conclusion! pic.twitter.com/zw6txhOqGhMay 15, 2024
Yes, the San Ti may be 400 years away, but you wonât have to wait that long for 3 Body Problem season 2. In fact, in May 2024, 3 Body Problem was officially renewed. And not just for season 2. 3 Body Problem is set to be a trilogy, and during the official Television Academy panel in LA, showrunners and writers David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo, revealed that theyâd be returning for season 2 and 3, culminating in the showâs conclusion.
As reported by Netflix Tudum, Weiss said: âWe included a lot of what we loved from the [novels by Cixin Liu] in season 1, but the vast majority of reasons we wanted to make this show are in season 2. We always wanted to get to the final page of the third book, and itâs really, really thrilling for us that we will get to do just that.â
When it comes to a release date, Weiss was asked by Collider whenâs the earliest they could start filming, to which he said: âFall.â As fall has passed, weâll take a look at season 1 for our best prediction. Filming took nine months between October 2021 and mid 2022. Then, it wasnât released until March 2024. Itâs important to note though that the release was delayed by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. As 3 Body Problem hasnât commenced filming yet, weâd predict that we wonât see season 2 until at least 2026.
3 Body Problem season 2 rumored cast
Major spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.
Thereâs no official cast confirmation, yet, but from how 3 Body Problem season 1 ended, weâd predict the following cast members to return:
- Jovan Adepo as Saul Durand
- John Bradley as Jack Rooney
- Liam Cunningham as Thomas Wade
- Eiza GonzĂĄlez as Auggie Salazar
- Jess Hong as Jin Cheng
- Marlo Kelly as Tatiana Haas
- Sea Shimooka as Sophon
- Zine Tseng as Young Ye Wenjie
- Saamer Usmani as Raj Varma
- Benedict Wong as Da Shi
- Jonathan Pryce as Mike Evans
As both space and time were impacted by the threat of the San-Tiâs arrival, there were a fair few deaths that fell mercy to it in 3 Body Problem season 1. The two most poignant being Will Downing (Alex Sharp) and Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao & Zine Tseng). While viewers didnât witness the deaths, they did both meet their demise. So, unless they return in flashbacks, which the show has a penchant for especially when visiting the origins in China of the San-Tiâs first contact, then these two characters wonât be returning.
3 Body Problem season 2 story speculation
Full story spoilers follow for 3 Body Problem season 1.
As devotees to Liuâs trilogy, the creators are seemingly following the books as closely as they can. While thereâs adaptations in terms of settings and revolving around the English language, as well as the inclusion of the Oxford Five, the plot is still in keeping with the books. In conversation with Collider, Benioff said: âThe first season roughly follows the arc of the first book. The second season would probably roughly follow the second book. The third book is massive. Itâs twice as long, I think, as the other two books.
So maybe thatâs one season, maybe itâs two. But, you know, I think weâd need at least three, maybe four seasons to tell the whole story. And itâs a beautiful ending. I think all three of us thought that the last page of Liu Cixin’s epic was maybe the best final image weâd encountered in a sci-fi saga like this. Itâs just incredibly moving and mind-blowing.â
The second book in Liuâs trilogy, which will follow season 2, is The Dark Forest and the official synopsis is: “Imagine the universe as a forest, patrolled by numberless and nameless predators. In this forest, stealth is survival – any civilisation that reveals its location is prey. Earth has. Now the predators are coming.
Crossing light years, the Trisolarians (known as the San-Ti in the show) will reach Earth in four centuries’ time. But the sophons, their extra-dimensional agents and saboteurs, are already here. Only the individual human mind remains immune to their influence.
This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a last-ditch defence that grants four individuals almost absolute power to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from human and alien alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown”
We know that Project Staircase failed and that humanity has to continue to prepare for an alien invasion. We also watched in season 1 as Saul Durand was named as one of the three Wallfacers of the show with no idea why. So, the storyline has been set up to continue their plan against the San-Ti and that all hope is not lost.
When it comes to the length of 3 Body Problem season 1, Weiss told Vulture: âEight episodes always felt right to us, at least for this season. Itâs not a superfast burn. It takes some time for people to understand, for all the threads to come together, the video game and the countdown and the suicide-slash-murder investigations. Taking 10 or 20 episodes to answer that question didnât feel viable for the kind of show we were making.â Perhaps season 2 will follow suit.
3 Body Problem season 2 trailer: is there one?
Considering the cast and crew have yet to begin filming 3 Body Problem season 2, thereâs no trailer to share. As soon as there is, weâll be sure to update here.
Where to watch 3 Body Problem season 1
All eight episodes of 3 Body Problem season 1 are available to stream on Netflix, one of the worldâs best streaming services, right now. As Netflix are responsible for the renewal of season 2 and 3 and the creation of season 1, weâd fully expect the platform to remain the exclusive home for the epic sci-fi drama.
Will 3 Body Problem get a third season on Netflix?
Yes, it absolutely will. As already mentioned, 3 Body Problem was renewed for season 3 alongside season 2. But, during the announcement, Weiss, Benioff, and Woo revealed that season 3 would be the showâs conclusion.
While thereâs previously been conversation around wanting to run a season 4, it doesn’t seem to be the case. Though as reported by Forbes, the showâs creators refer to the remainder of the show in years, rather than seasons. Benioff said: âBy the time we finish with the show, it will be seven years weâve devoted to it.â
He added: âWeâre now at a place where we get to tell the rest of the story, and, yes, we have enough time to tell the rest of the story the way we want to and thatâs immensely gratifying.â Either way, the creators say theyâll reach the final page of the trilogy and for any fans of the books or fans of the show, itâll be an epic ride.
For more Netflix TV show-based coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, Wednesday season 2, One Piece season 2, and Squid Game season 2.