Brief
Zhang Yimou says his Three‑Body Problem film script is still being polished
Zhang Yimou told festival officials the script for his sci‑fi adaptation is still being refined amid high audience expectations.
By Felo News Desk · Published
At the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival, director Zhang Yimou said his film adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel *The Three‑Body Problem* is still being polished, years after the project began.
What happened
Zhang, who is presiding over this year’s competition jury, was asked by festival director Jung Hanseok about the status of the film. He replied that the script has been under revision for several years and remains in the polishing phase.
What the reports add
Zhang noted that after the announcement that he would direct, his company collected online commentary that generated roughly 400,000 comments in one week, reflecting strong public scrutiny. He said the rise of AI and democratized visual media has heightened audience discernment, adding pressure to meet expectations.
What was said
"The Three‑Body Problem is a great science‑fiction novel, and I like it very much. But it is very difficult to adapt into a film," Zhang told Variety. "We are still polishing it now. I hope this film will not disappoint everyone’s expectations."
How it came about
The novel, the first in Liu Cixin’s “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” trilogy, won the 2015 Hugo Award. It has already been adapted as a Bilibili animated series (2022), Tencent’s live‑action series (2023) and Netflix’s "3 Body Problem" (2024). Zhang, over 40 years into his career, leads a seven‑member jury as the 31st Busan festival runs through Oct. 15.
Key facts
- Zhang Yimou said the script for his Three‑Body Problem film is still being polished. (variety.com)
- Around 400,000 online comments were collected after the project was announced. (variety.com)
- The Busan International Film Festival runs through Oct. 15, 2026. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Zhang Yimou Says ‘The Three-Body Problem’ Script Is Still Being Polished After Several Years: ‘It Is Very Difficult to Adapt’”
