Sylvester Stallone's Balboa Productions Adapts J.D. Barker's 4MK Thriller Series for TV
A new crime series is in development, based on J.D. Barker’s bestselling 4MK book trilogy. Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions and writer Channing Powell will bring the chilling detective story to television. The show will follow Detective Sam Porter as he tracks a brutal killer in Chicago.
The series centres on the Four Monkey Killer, a murderer who leaves behind gruesome crime scenes. Victims are found without ears, eyes, or tongues—each death arranged as a ritualised warning. Behind the violence lies a twisted mission: to expose corruption by targeting the guilty through their families.
Balboa Productions has partnered with Channing Powell, known for her work as co-executive producer on *From* for MGM+. Powell will serve as showrunner, lead writer, and executive producer. Sylvester Stallone and D. Matt Geller will also join as executive producers. The adaptation will draw from Barker’s original 4MK trilogy as well as an upcoming prequel series. The first prequel novel, *The First Scarlet Door*, is scheduled for global release on September 22. Barker’s previous works have already attracted interest from film and television producers.
The project marks another high-profile adaptation of Barker’s novels. With Powell at the helm and Stallone’s production team involved, the series aims to bring the detective’s hunt for the Four Monkey Killer to screens. The first prequel book will hit shelves in September, setting the stage for the show’s darker themes.
