Netflix seems to have its own potential replacement for The Expanse, which is all set to return soon with another season after a new production update.

Even though over half a decade has passed since The Expanse ended its run on Prime Video, the show is still considered the gold standard for modern science fiction TV. The brilliance with which The Expanse balanced scientific realism with moving human drama against the massive backdrop of interplanetary politics and space colonization remains unmatched even to this day.

Owing to this, calling any show a worthy replacement for The Expanse would be a little unfair. However, one Netflix sci-fi show, which got an exciting production update, could potentially come close to being as compelling as The Expanse if executed well in future installments.

3 Body Problem Season 2’s Production Update Confirms Its Release Isn’t Too Far

In the first week of November 2025, Netflix announced the inception of 3 Body Problem season 2’s production. Nearly three months later, 3 Body Problem season 2 has officially wrapped filming. While the Netflix sci-fi show’s return does not have an official release date yet, it has been scheduled to premiere in 2026 itself.

Considering how VFX-heavy shows like 3 Body Problem stay in post-production far longer than the others, a late 2026 release can be expected for the Netflix show’s season 2.

This is great news for fans of sci-fi since many highly-anticipated TV shows of the genre are expected to come out later in 2026. Although shows like Silo season 2, Neuromancer, and Dark Matter season 2 do not have official release dates yet, they, too, are expected to premiere some time in the second of the year. With 3 Body Problem season 2 joining the ranks of these releases, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for science fiction television in recent memory.

3 Body Problem Has The Potential To Become Netflix’s Expanse Replacement

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After season 1, 3 Body Problem does not yet rank among the best modern sci-fi shows like The Expanse. However, like the Prime Video series, 3 Body Problem, too, does not shy away from treating hard science as a solid narrative device to drive its story.

Just like The Expanse focuses on everything from orbital mechanics to the harsh realities of living in low gravity, Netflix’s 3 Body Problem riffs on everything from theoretical physics concepts to the philosophical implications of the titular three-body problem.

In terms of scale, 3 Body Problem does not extend beyond humanity’s home planet in season 1. However, in its upcoming installments, it will extend its story into the arrival of the Trisolaran invasion fleet, humanity’s response through institutions like the Planetary Defense Council, and the strategies born from the Wallfacer Project.

Similar to the Protomolecule in The Expanse, the San-Ti in 3 Body Problem also comes off as incomprehensible, Lovecraftian threats that remind one of humanity’s insignificance in the vastness of the universe. Not to mention, with Game of Thrones‘ creators, Benioff and Weiss, as its creators, Netflix‘s 3 Body Problem is only expected to get better and potentially come close to being as good as The Expanse.