Zhang Yimou brings Three-Body Problem update to Busan opening
Zhang Yimou used the opening night of the Busan International Film Festival to give an update on his long-planned Chinese film of Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem, telling the audience he had spent years getting the script right, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The director spoke at the opening ceremony on Oct. 6 at the Busan Cinema Center. The ceremony was hosted by actress Kim Min-ha, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Zhang said he had spent several years polishing the screenplay. His team also gathered about 400,000 online comments from fans about what they hoped to see in the film, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
The project is separate from Netflix's English-language series 3 Body Problem. That series was created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss alongside Alexander Woo and debuted in March 2024, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Plans for Zhang's version were first announced at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2024.
Zhang is in Busan in a second role this year, as president of the festival's main competition jury. The seven-member jury also includes Bi Gan, Moon Choi, Kei Ishikawa, July Jung, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and Samal Yeslyamova, The Hollywood Reporter reported. His ties to Busan go back to 2010, according to BIFF.
This year's Busan festival runs from Oct. 6 to Oct. 15, according to BIFF. It opened with 'A-list' status for the first time, The Korea Herald reported. That standing puts its competition alongside the top tier of international festivals and sharpens the race for prizes and premieres.
Fourteen films were shortlisted for the main competition. The winners receive the Busan Award, The Korea Herald reported. The winner now qualifies directly for the Oscars, Variety reported, which gives the competition a new path to the Academy Awards.
The public programme is packed. Open Talk sessions run Oct. 7 to Oct. 13 at the Busan Cinema Center Roof Theater, with Outdoor Stage Greetings at the same venue from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11, according to BIFF. Actors' House sessions include Kim Go-eun and Kim Min-ha on Oct. 8 and Shin Mina on Oct. 10 at Culture Hall in Shinsegae Centum City.
Master classes include Na Hong-jin and Alfonso Cuarón on Oct. 8, Lav Diaz on Oct. 9 and animation director Rintaro on Oct. 10. A Special Talk on Oct. 8 celebrates Ann Hui, winner of the Camellia Award, according to BIFF. Michelle Yeoh has been named Asian Filmmaker of the Year at this year's festival, Deadline reported.
What makes this stand out is the mix. A veteran director talking openly about fan pressure on a beloved book, a jury with awards weight behind it, and a festival with a new competitive edge. For fans, this means the next ten days in Busan will set the conversation well beyond Korea.
