China executes man for poisoning billionaire Netflix producer

Chinese authorities have executed a man convicted of using poison to kill a billionaire gaming tycoon linked to the Netflix adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem" over a professional dispute, local media reported Tuesday. Xu Yao was found guilty of killing Lin Qi, the founder of the Shanghai-based Yoozoo Games, which holds the film adaptation rights for the blockbuster science-fiction trilogy known by the title of its first book, "The Three-Body Problem." The sci-fi trilogy, by Chinese author Liu Cixin, has been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted into television and game productions, including Netflix's popular "3 Body Problem" series released in 2024. Xu, the former head of a subsidiary of Yoozoo Games, poisoned Lin in 2020 over being sidelined by the founder shortly after Xu helped his superior land the Netflix deal. Xu was convicted in 2024, and Shanghai business magazine Yicai Global and other outlets reported he was executed May 21. Lin's company confirmed the execution in a statement Tuesday on the Weibo social media platform. "Recently, the case concerning Mr. Lin Qi, the founder of Three-Body Universe, has finally reached its conclusion, and justice has ultimately been served," the statement read. "All of us at the company are deeply grateful for the upholding of justice," it continued. Yoozoo Games did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for additional comment. …