Don’t look now, but Damon Lindelof has yet another project in active development over at HBO. This time, it’s a eight-episode series order for “The China,” a limited series based on 2019 New York Times bestseller, “The Chain.” The show will be Lindeloff’s fourth series with the network after “The Leftovers,” “Watchmen,” and the upcoming “Lanterns.”
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The set-up of Adrian McKinty‘s 2019 novel is very parents’ worst nightmare: a mother drops her daughter off at the bus stop, only to get a call moments later from a woman who claims she’s kidnapped the child. But the stakes of the ransom reveal a deeper conspiracy: in order for her daughter to go free, she must also kidnap another child, continuing “the chain” or the previously kidnapped children will die.
“The Chain” is part of Lindelof’s two-year overall deal with HBO that he signed in September 2025. The Emmy-winning writer will serve as showrunner on the limited series, executive produce, and co-pen its pilot with Carly Wray, with Breannah Gibson also contributing to its story. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsay Springer also executive produce the series through Media Res, the co-studio behind the series, as does novelist McKinty.
Here’s a press statement from Lindelof for “The Chain”: “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 [Orsi, head of HBO Drama Series and Films], 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.
It’s worth noting that Lindelof looks to expand the story of McKinty’s novel for this limited series, much as he did with his 2019 show “Watchmen.” How much expansion that means is anyone’s guess, and HBO subscribers likely won’t know the full extent of it until Lindelof wraps work on “Lanterns,” his Green Lantern series starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, premieres on HBO this summer.
