Several notable works by acclaimed Chinese science fiction author Liu Cixin are set to be transformed into films and television series, reflecting a burgeoning interest in Chinese sci-fi narratives on a global scale.

A recent announcement revealed a new film adaptation of Liu's short story "With Her Eyes," which is being produced by Chen Sicheng, renowned for the popular "Detective Chinatown" film series.

The adaptation was formally announced during an event at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site on March 21, 2025. As One Production confirmed the collaboration of notable talents in the industry; Chen Sicheng will serve as executive producer, while Dai Mo, who has directed hits such as "Fireflies in the Sun" and "Detective Chinatown 1900," is set to direct the film.

The screenwriting team will notably feature Liu Cixin alongside Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore, best known for his Oscar-winning film "Cinema Paradiso."

"With Her Eyes" originally won the prestigious Galaxy Award for science fiction in China in 1999. The narrative follows the journey of a space engineer who, upon returning from his mission, embarks on a vacation with a special pair of "eyes" he acquires, allowing him to connect with an enigmatic entity referred to as "her." The story explores profound themes of human connection and loneliness through the lens of shared experiences, earning acclaim for its introspective and poetic approach.

In his remarks during the announcement, Liu conveyed that the adaptation of "With Her Eyes" offers a distinctive perspective compared to his other works, utilizing a more gentle and poetic tone to explore humanity's quest for the unknown.

He expressed optimism about the film's visualization and emotional resonance.

Chen Steck expressed appreciation for China's rapid advancements in space exploration technology during his visit to the aerospace facilities.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining the essence of Liu's narrative vision while sharing the story's emotional depth with audiences worldwide.

This marks director Dai Mo's second partnership with Liu Cixin, having recently completed work on the highly anticipated series "Ball Lightning," which is also based on Liu's writing and produced by Chen Sicheng.

Liu Cixin’s body of work has become increasingly sought after in the film and television industry.

Recent reports indicate that his story "Full-Spectrum Barrage Jamming" will be directed by Guan Hu, noted for the 2020 war film "The Eight Hundred."

Other significant projects are progressing, including Frant Gwo’s upcoming film "The Wandering Earth 3," Zhang Yimou’s adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem," and Yang Lei’s television series "Three-Body II: The Dark Forest." Additionally, a spin-off series focused on protagonist Shi Qiang is under development, alongside Tian Li's television adaptation of "Sea of Dreams," currently in post-production.

There is also a movie adaptation of "The Supernova Era" in the works.

Previously, adaptations of Liu Cixin's "The Wandering Earth" yielded considerable box office success, with the 2019 installment earning 4.69 billion yuan, followed by a prequel in 2023 that grossed 4.04 billion yuan.

The film "Crazy Alien," adapted from Liu's "The Rural Teacher" by director Ning Hao, grossed 2.2 billion yuan in 2019. Liu's Hugo Award-winning "The Three-Body Problem" has inspired two successful television adaptations, one for Tencent Video and another for Netflix, both achieving significant acclaim and commercial success.

Analysts project that the combined market value of the "Three-Body" franchise, encompassing various formats such as publishing, television, film, animation, and related consumer products, exceeds 2 billion yuan.