‘3 Body Problem’ Exec Xu Yao Executed After Poisoning Producer Lin Qi

Chinese authorities have executed Xu Yao, a man convicted of murdering his former boss, Lin Qi, in a shocking poisoning case tied to a dispute within a prominent entertainment and gaming company. This information has been reported by the BBC and various international media outlets covering the legal proceedings and background in China.

Xu Yao was found guilty of killing Lin Qi, the billionaire founder and chairman of Yoozoo Games. Reports indicate that the attack stemmed from a disagreement between the two regarding business decisions related to the company’s management of significant entertainment rights, including projects associated with the 3 Body Problem franchise.

Lin Qi led Yoozoo Games, a Chinese firm recognized for developing mobile games and overseeing film and television rights for major intellectual properties. One of the key properties managed by the company was Remembrance of Earth’s Past, the science fiction series by Liu Cixin, known internationally as 3 Body Problem, which was later adapted into a Netflix series.

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

Tensions reportedly escalated after Xu was removed from a leadership position related to managing rights for the 3 Body Problem franchise. Following this, he allegedly devised the poisoning plan. Both Lin and his wife ingested the pills, but only Lin succumbed to the effects. He died in the hospital in December 2020, approximately ten days after the poisoning.

After an investigation, Xu Yao was arrested and subsequently sentenced to death in 2024 following a court trial. This sentence was carried out last week, as reported.

In the aftermath of the execution, Yoozoo Games issued a public statement expressing their condolences. The company stated, “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 garnered international attention not only due to the nature of the crime but also because of its connection to a significant global franchise. The 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 remains credited as an executive producer on the first season of the show, which premiered in 2024.

Netflix has confirmed plans for future seasons of the series, with the second season expected to stream later this year and a third season also in the works.

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

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