The founder of a Chinese gaming company, Lin Qi, who had ambitious plans to bring the popular Chinese science fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” to global screens, tragically met his end after being poisoned by one of his own executives. Lin, a billionaire and a big fan of the trilogy, had envisioned turning the series into a worldwide phenomenon similar to “Star Wars.”
Despite his efforts, Lin did not live to see his dream come true as he was poisoned by Xu Yao, a high-profile lawyer who worked for Lin’s company. Xu gave Lin toxic “probiotic pills” that ultimately led to his death at just 39 years old. Xu was sentenced to death by a Shanghai court for the murder.
The meticulously planned murder shocked many in China and drew comparisons to the American TV show “Breaking Bad.” Xu reportedly set up a laboratory and purchased over a hundred toxins on the “dark web” to carry out the crime.
The court did not elaborate on the exact motive behind the murder, but reports suggest that the rift between Xu and Lin stemmed from a dispute over the adaptation rights to “The Three-Body Problem.” Lin’s determination to secure the rights led to a collaboration with Xu, who eventually obtained the rights but was later sidelined by Lin.
Lin’s death came just a day after Netflix announced plans to produce an adaptation of the trilogy, which he had been eagerly working towards. Despite the tragedy, Lin’s legacy and his vision for “The Three-Body Problem” live on as the series debuted on Netflix with Lin posthumously credited as the executive producer.