The reactions to Netflix‘s sci-fi epic 3 Physique Downside are, if something, inconsistent. The evaluations from high critics are far and wide, from lavish reward to disses and every little thing in between. Viewers are equally cut up, with some followers of Liu Cixin’s novel criticizing the sequence for its daring adaptive decisions, and plenty of others saying 3 Physique Downside is among the greatest style reveals they’ve ever watched (one would possibly say it’s a chaotic period of 3 Physique Downside reactions). But amongst followers who’ve completed the present to date, one constant response is rising: The present’s cliffhanger ending (no spoilers right here) left them actually desirous to see what occurs subsequent.

And showrunners David Benioff, Dan Weiss and Alexander Woo recommend {that a} second season will probably be even higher than the primary. Benioff beforehand informed The Hollywood Reporter for our deep dive cowl story on the present (in a quote that has been expanded right here): “At our first Comedian-Con [for Game of Thrones] somebody requested if we’re going to get a second season,” he mentioned. “I bear in mind saying there’s a scene that may occur in season three — I didn’t even need to identify it, however ‘RW, for individuals who know — if we will get there, I feel we’re going to be okay. And there’s a scene within the second season [of 3 Body Problem] that I really feel is — it’s not the Judgment Day scene [in season one] — it’s one which occurs within the second season … issues wildly escape and there’s one scene, if we get to it, we’re golden — like once we obtained to the Purple Marriage ceremony on Thrones.”

“It’s one thing we’ve talked about with the Netflix guys, too,” he added. “Liu Cixin’s created this indelible trilogy and the books simply get higher for me. The second e book is much better than the primary, and the third e book simply fully blew my thoughts. The story simply will get increasingly bold because it goes, and it takes an enormous leap in e book two. So I really feel like if we survive to the second season, we’re going to be in an excellent place.”

The headwind in opposition to 3 Physique Downside is its hefty price ticket — reportedly Netflix’s most costly season scripted sequence ever, costing within the $20 million-per-episode vary. It’s a value {that a} streamer may have extra simply swallowed a number of years in the past when the present was greenlit, in the course of the pinnacle of Peak TV and the good IP gold rush. And Netflix is moderately notoriously mathematical with regards to making renewal selections. “Price range and dimension of viewers is one issue that has to enter making renewal selections,” chief content material officer Bela Bajaria mentioned final yr. “Engagement is actually necessary. Did individuals press play, however they didn’t end the sequence?”

Proper out of the gate, 3 Physique Downside opened at No. 2 on Netflix’s Prime TV reveals record, which isn’t nice, however many Netflix hit develop from phrase of mouth after their preliminary debut (like Queen’s Gambit and Squid Recreation).

Netflix executives have additionally pushed again on their “algorithm is every little thing” status, and if there’s one present the place different elements would possibly may put the thumb on their algorithmic scale, it’s 3 Physique Downside. Put bluntly: By way of style programming, 3 Physique Downside isn’t like Shadow and Bone or Resident Evil — middling titles which have pockets of devoted fandom, however weren’t thought of status TV.

Even when balancing the unfavourable evaluations, when you’ve gotten a Huge Concepts present that the likes of the The New York Instances and New Yorker are praising as a “a uncommon species of sci-fi epic that mixes theoretical questions with real spectacle and coronary heart” and a “morally provocative” present with “visible grandeur, thrills and wow moments,” such acclaim units 3 Physique on a excessive shelf of cultural significance. Whereas Netflix has infinite hours of content material, one longtime criticism is that a lot of its content material is taken into account trivial. Making 3 Physique Downside was clearly a play for a present that, certain, is hopefully successful, however one which additionally feels prefer it issues.

Additionally secret is the truth that Benioff and Weiss have been employed as a part of a large multi-year total deal value not less than $200 million, and that is the one sequence they’ve showrun themselves (together with Woo). Streamers and networks are typically a bit extra hesitant to scrap reveals made by their heavy hitters (which isn’t to say Netflix received’t pull the set off — they axed Ryan Murphy’s Ratched after one season, as an example).

Yet one more constructive signal is that Netflix goes all-in on selling 3 Physique Downside, supporting the present with a powerful publicity push at South By Southwest Movie & TV Pageant and an accompanying podcast.

Additional serving to issues is the truth that — not like a few of its rivals — Netflix is definitely doing moderately effectively proper now. Its most up-to-date quarterly report had the service including 13 million subscribers, beating Wall Road estimates. Netflix’s inventory has practically recovered from its disastrous plummet in 2022.

The present additionally has a powerful advocate behind the scenes in scripted head Peter Friedlander. “This undertaking feels very private to me,” Friedlander informed us. “The expertise I had studying the books was not like any that I had ever actually had earlier than. I didn’t know what the present could be — how do you course of the dimensions of the universe, the dimensions of infinity? These ideas are very laborious to embrace, and the way in which the creator wrote about them takes your breath away. I’m happy with pushing by means of a narrative that’s entertaining and has an exquisite message.”

The 3 Physique Downside showrunners say they envision the sequence as ideally spanning 4 seasons (with a giant time leap for the second season). Whereas its anyone’s guess in the event that they’ll get all 4 — and the present’s as-yet-unknown rankings will probably be key — 3 Physique Downside does a number of elements in its favor for a pickup. For his or her half, the showrunners are correctly continuing as if a renewal goes to occur, so that they’re able to shortly leap again into manufacturing.

“We don’t have a second season, however we have to preserve pushing ahead full steam forward as if we did,” Benioff just lately informed Video games Radar. “As a result of if we do get a second season, we’ll must hit the bottom working by way of pre-production and manufacturing to get it out to individuals in some type of cheap time.”

‘3 Physique Downside’ Creators Say Season 2 Will Be Even Higher. Will They Get One?