Game of Thrones creators' beleaguered, big-budget Netflix sci-fi show reportedly getting a reduced episode count for seasons 2 and 3

3 Body Problem season 2 will have a reduced episode count, according to a new report.

Thanks to a telling snap from behind the scenes, What's On Netflix reckons that it'll consist of six episodes, while season 3 will likely be just five episodes.

In the image, which was shared by a member of the production crew, you can see a big clapperboard with the words "It's a wrap!" written on it. In the episode section, it reads 206, which the publication has taken as confirmation that the sixth episode is the season finale.

The first chapter of the sci-fi series, which was created by Game of Thrones' David Benioff and D.B. Weiss alongside Alexander Woo, allegedly set Netflix back a whopping $233 million – with each of its eight episodes said to have cost around $29 million (per Forbes). It spent three weeks in the #1 slot of the streamer's most popular shows, and a further four weeks in the Top 10.

While What's On Netflix didn't provide a reason, it's possible that the truncated follow-up is an attempt to trim down the price tag.

Season 2 and season 3 are reportedly filming back-to-back to avoid the headaches of pinning down new filming locations and possible continuity errors brought about by its aging cast. The publication previously claimed that both installments would amount to 11 episodes, which points to season 3 being even shorter than its predecessor.

Based on the book of the same name by Liu Cixin, the show centers on a bunch of scientists as they attempt to solve a time-travelling mystery that spans decades, continents and even galaxies. Jovan Adepo (It: Welcome to Derry), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Liam Cunningham, John Bradley (Game of Thrones), Eiza González (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare), and more star.

"There's three novels in the trilogy," Woo explained to GamesRadar+ back in March 2024. "The novels get longer and longer so I wouldn't say it maps out exactly to three. We have some really strong ideas about what to do in a season two, and then it's a little hazier down the line. But we want to get to the end, we want to get to the end of the trilogy, and whether that's three or four, you know, or some other number."

3 Body Problem is streaming now on Netflix. For more, check out our picks of the best Netflix shows.