HBO Sets Damon Lindelof’s “The Chain”

HBO has handed out an eight-episode, straight-to-series order for Emmy-winner Damon Lindelof’s new limited series “The Chain” based on Adrian McKinty’s acclaimed New York Times bestseller.

Details are under wraps, but Lindelof is said to be expanding the mythology of the novel that was inspired by McKinty’s chain letters of his youth and contemporary reports of hostage exchanges.

The book follows Rachel Klein, a recently divorced single mother whose daughter is kidnapped and she’s told to save her, she must abduct another child and force that child’s parents to do the same – perpetuating a ruthless criminal relay known as ‘the chain’.

Rachel races against time while trying to outwit both the criminals who control the chain and the authorities who could end it by stopping her.

Lindelof will serve as showrunner as well as write and executive produce the series – his first showrunning gig since the highly acclaimed “Watchmen” TV series also on HBO. Prior to that, he co-created HBO’s “The Leftovers”.

HBO has also signed a two-year overall deal with Lindelof that began in September last year. Media Res (“Pachinko,” “The Morning Show”) will co-produce with the cabler, while Carly Wray and Breannah Gibson are co-writing.

Also executive producing are Shane Salerno, Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer.