Image Credit: Netflix
It’s a good day for 3 physical problems Fans! Production on the eagerly awaited next chapter of Netflix’s mind-bending sci-fi epic is officially in full swing. Today, we get an exclusive first look at stars Marlo Kelly and Jess Hong, as well as (potential spoiler) filming some highly dramatic new scenes on Camber Sands beach in East Sussex, England, as Season 3 begins.
as a hit series from game of Thrones As producers David Benioff and DB Weiss (along with Alexander Wu) move on to complete Cixin Liu’s sprawling tale, these new behind-the-scenes photos give us a tantalizing glimpse of what to expect.
Importantly, while these photos show the cast braving the British elements, this UK shoot is actually a big exception for the show’s new production cycle.
Here are the details of the new set photos, what they mean for the story, and why this brief return to the UK is so important.
A brief return to the UK before heading to Hungary
If you are following the production of 3 physical problemsYou might notice that Season 1 was originally a British production. The first season was filmed almost entirely in the United Kingdom, using major studio locations and various location shoots in London and surrounding counties.
However, seeing artists on the windy shores of Camber Sands today is a bit of a rarity for this current stage of the tour.
As we first reported in April 2025, Season 2—and the newly debuted Season 3—are actually being filmed primarily Budapest, Hungary. The production has officially moved its primary base of operations to Eastern Europe in order to utilize its massive soundstages and extensive locations, a common move for huge sci-fi epics of this scale. So, while it’s great to see the cast back on UK soil for these specific beach scenes, don’t expect the UK to be the primary backdrop as the war against the San-Ti escalates.
What are they filming at Camber Sands?
The new photos show a surprising and very confusing contrast between the characters, which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the show’s reality-bending world.
jess hongThe actor, who plays theoretical physicist Jin Cheng, is seen in tattered, mud-stained and historically ambiguous “peasant” clothes. Judging by her outfit and the gloomy, sandy environment, it’s highly likely that Jin is returning in San-ti’s advanced virtual reality game.
During this time, marlo kellywho plays fiercely loyal human-alien liaison Tatiana Haas, wearing a sleek, tactical all-black outfit with knee-high boots. But it’s not all tidy for Tatiana; In several shots, his right hand and arm are seen badly covered in blood. Is she tracking down Jin in the real world, or has the VR game become far more dangerous and deadly?
Season 1 was notably filmed (relatively) nearby At Cuckmere Haven Beach near the Seven Sisters rocks.
What else do we know about the final season?
These new set photos line up perfectly with our recent production coverage and scoops. Here’s a quick recap of where this show stands:
- Filming underway: As we exclusively reported, filming for Season 3 was scheduled to begin in June 2026. Seeing the cast at Camber Sands today confirms that the cameras are indeed officially rolling on the final chapter!
- Lower number of episodes for Season 2: We recently confirmed that season 2 will have a lower number of episodes than the first season. The creators have made it clear that they are filming the required number of episodes to reach the story’s epic, natural conclusion.
- New faces joining the fray: The universe is expanding! As production progresses in Hungary, four major new characters are being introduced. Although we haven’t been able to see them on the beach today, hopefully there will be some more casting announcements soon when Netflix lets us reveal them!
For a full rundown of everything we’ve learned over the past year, check out our comprehensive guide to everything we know about the upcoming episodes.
Let’s now take a look at the photos and also take a look at potential spoilers (naturally, if you want to go into the final two seasons with fresh eyes, stop watching and reading now!).
A huge book spoiler hidden in scene?
WARNING: The following section contains spoilers. proceed with caution!
Eagle-eyed fans checking out the photos will notice a third, incredibly important cast member on set: sea shimukaWho plays Sophon, San-Ti’s AI avatar. She is seen in her signature all-black, slicked-back look.
With Sofan in hand, a book of fairy tales covered in slime, and Tatiana looking more bloodied than ever, it’s safe to say that the producers are leaving no stone unturned for the remainder of the series. In several photos, Sophan (or a crew member handing it to him) is holding a green, gold embossed book with the obvious title “Fairytales”.
Minor spoiler warning for the books: Fans of the third novel, Death’s End, know exactly what this means. This is almost certainly a reference to the fairy tales of Yun Tianming (Will Downing on the show) – a massive plot device containing heavily coded metaphors and hidden messages about how humanity can survive the dark forest and the San-Ti threat. Seeing it on set means the show is diving into some of the weirdest concepts from the final book!
Are you excited about your comeback? 3 physical problems? What do you think is happening in these UK beach scenes? Let us know your theories in the comments below!
