‘3 Body Problem’ Exec Executed After Poisoning the Producer of The Netflix Series

Chinese authorities have executed a man who killed his former boss in a shocking poisoning case connected to a dispute inside a major entertainment and gaming company. The information comes from reporting by the BBC and other international media outlets covering the legal case and its background in China.

The man, Xu Yao, was convicted of murdering Lin Qi, the billionaire founder and chairman of Yoozoo Games. According to reports, the attack happened after a disagreement between the two men over business decisions linked to the company’s handling of major entertainment rights, including projects connected to the 3 Body Problem franchise.

Lin Qi was the head of Yoozoo Games, a Chinese company known for developing mobile games and managing film and television rights for major intellectual properties. One of the most important properties under the company’s control was Remembrance of Earth’s Past, the science fiction book series by Liu Cixin, which is known internationally as 3 Body Problem and later adapted into a Netflix series.

Reports state that Xu Yao poisoned Lin by giving him fake probiotic pills that were laced with a highly toxic form of mercury. The two men had previously worked closely together at Yoozoo Games, especially during the company’s expansion into entertainment projects, including a video game based on Game of Thrones.

Tensions reportedly grew after Xu was removed from a leadership role connected to managing rights for the 3 Body Problem franchise. Following this, he allegedly began preparing the poisoning plan. Lin and his wife both consumed the pills, but only Lin died. He passed away in hospital in December 2020, about ten days after being poisoned.

After an investigation, Xu Yao was arrested and later sentenced to death in 2024 following a court trial. That sentence was carried out last week, according to the same reports.

After the execution, Yoozoo Games released a public statement expressing condolences. The company said, “We deeply mourn Mr. Lin and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. As colleagues who fought alongside him, all members of the company are grateful for the impartiality of the judicial process… Justice has ultimately been served.”

The case has drawn international attention not only because of the crime itself but also because of its connection to a major global franchise. 3 Body Problem was later adapted into a high-budget Netflix series by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the former showrunners of Game of Thrones. Lin Qi is still credited as an executive producer on the first season of the show, which was released in 2024.

Netflix has already confirmed future seasons of the series, with the second season expected to stream later this year and a third season also planned.

The case remains one of the most unusual and disturbing legal stories linked indirectly to a major modern science fiction franchise.

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