HBO Orders Series Adaptation of Kidnap Thriller ‘The Chain’ with Damon Lindelof as Showrunner
Damon Lindelof resumes his role as showrunner with a new kidnap thriller, The Chain, which has received a straight-to-series order from HBO. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network is set to bring this gripping story to the screen.
Based on Adrian McKinty’s 2019 novel, this marks Lindelof’s first return to the showrunner position since his work on HBO’s Watchmen, which aired in 2019.
Lindelof, who entered a two-year overall deal with HBO last year, has also served as executive producer on projects such as Peacock’s Mrs. Davis and HBO’s upcoming superhero series, Lanterns, expected to premiere this year.
The Chain is poised to be an eight-part limited series, with Media Res, creators of The Morning Show, acting as co-studio.
HBO announced that Lindelof aims to “expand the mythology of McKinty’s thriller.”
The narrative follows Rachel Klein, a mother whose life takes a harrowing turn after a mysterious phone call informs her that her daughter, Kylie, is kidnapped. To secure Kylie’s release, Rachel must commit a crime: pay a ransom and find another child to abduct. The twist is that the kidnapper is a mother herself, driven by her own desperate circumstances, adding a chilling layer of complexity to Rachel’s situation. Rachel becomes entangled in a nightmarish scenario known as The Chain.
The Chain carries an intriguing backstory.
McKinty had previously quit writing in 2017 to support his family by working as a bartender and Uber driver. Author Don Winslow sought to revive McKinty’s writing career by introducing his work to agent Shane Salerno, who encouraged him to create The Chain.
In 2020, Universal Pictures optioned the book with plans for Edgar Wright to direct, alongside screenwriter Jane Goldman. While that project did not materialize, Media Res acquired the rights in 2024 to adapt it into a television series.
The pilot story is crafted by Lindelof, Carly Wray, and Breannah Gibson, with Lindelof and Wray co-writing the script. Lindelof will serve as an executive producer alongside Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer for Media Res, with Shane Salerno and McKinty as co-executive producer.
“From the moment I heard the wild and original premise of Adrian’s book, I was shocked, surprised, and angry I hadn’t thought of it myself,” Lindelof remarked. “I’ve always wanted to try to adapt a great thriller, and this one has all the dark, weird, exhilarating touches that fire up my imagination. I feel so fortunate to reteam with Francesca, Casey, and Michael, who first brought me to HBO 15 years ago, and I can’t wait to make The Chain a memorable link in their outstanding legacy.”
Francesca Orsi, EVP of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, expressed, “We are honored by our continued partnership with Damon Lindelof, one of the most singular and distinctive creators of our time. The Chain promises to continue his legacy of dropping us into the pit of the human brain and delivering in ways not only emotionally daring but, ultimately, transformative.”
