Six years ago, it was announced that Edgar Wright was set to direct a feature adaptation of author Adrian McKinty’s 2019 novel The Chain for Universal Pictures, with Jane Goldman writing the screenplay. But, like many projects announced during the height of the pandemic, The Chain quickly sputtered out. The adaptation rights have passed hands, moving over to HBO and showrunner Damon Lindelof – and now, Deadline reports that HBO has given The Chain a straight-to-series order!
Lindelof’s previous shows include Lost and The Leftovers. He most recently served as showrunner on the HBO series Watchmen, which aired in 2019.
Synopsis
The novel The Chain tells the story of Rachel, who learns that her 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. The only way to get her back is to kidnap another child. Her daughter will be released only when that next victim’s parents kidnap another child. If Rachel doesn’t kidnap another child, or if that child’s parents don’t kidnap a child, her daughter will be murdered. She is now part of The Chain, a terrifying and meticulous chain letter-like kidnapping scheme that turns parents from victims into criminals.
What the masterminds behind The Chain know is that parents will do anything for their children. But what they don’t know is that in Rachel they have finally met their match, as she is smart and tough enough to have survived a bout with cancer and is determined to break The Chain while getting her daughter back.
HBO’s The Chain will be an eight-part limited series with Media Res serving as co-studio. Lindelof is said to be “expanding the mythology of McKinty’s thriller.” Lindelof, Carly Wray, and Breannah Gibson crafted the pilot story, with Lindelof and Wray then writing script. Lindelof is executive producing the show with Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer for Media Res and Shane Salerno. McKinty is co-executive producer.
Statements
Lindelof had this to say about the project: “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. 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 fifteen years ago and I can’t wait to make The Chain a memorable link in their outstanding legacy.“
Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, added, “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.“
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