Stallone’s Balboa Productions Is Adapting J.D. Barker’s 4MK Books for TV
Sylvester Stallone‘s Balboa Productions is teaming with Channing Powell (Tales of the Walking Dead, From) to develop a television adaptation of J.D. Barker‘s bestselling 4MK book series. The exclusive was first reported by Deadline.
The Fourth Monkey
Set in Chicago, Barker’s novels follow Detective Sam Porter as he hunts the elusive Four Monkey Killer — a murderer who has terrorized the city for years with a chilling and highly personal code of judgment. Guided by the maxim “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,” the killer removes the ears, eyes, and tongues of his victims, turning every crime scene into a ritualized message. The fourth, unspoken rule — “do no evil” — reveals the killer’s deeper agenda: exposing hidden corruption by going after the people the guilty love most.
The TV show will draw mostly from the first three books in the series — The Fourth Monkey, The Fifth to Die, and The Sixth Wicked Child. Powell will serve as showrunner, writer, and executive producer alongside Stallone and D. Matt Geller. Christian Bersani will oversee the project for Balboa after originally bringing the material to Powell’s attention.
Stallone said in a statement to Deadline that Barker “created a world with enormous scale, real danger, a ruthless narrative engine, and the kind of mythology that is tailor-made for premium television.” Powell, for her part, said the books had her from the first page: “What drew me to 4MK immediately was its intensity, its intelligence, and the way it keeps tightening the screws until you can barely breathe.”
UK readers who want to get ahead of the curve should note that Barker is actively expanding the universe. The first book in a new prequel trilogy, The First Scarlet Door, hits shelves worldwide on 22 September 2026 — just in time to make an excellent autumn read while the show is presumably somewhere deep in development hell. No network or streamer has been announced yet for a UK release.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about 4MK as the project develops.
Chloe Jones is a film and television critic dedicated to providing expert analysis of movies, web series, and the latest in prestige TV. Known for her insightful perspective and deep industry knowledge, Chloe helps audiences navigate the crowded streaming landscape with honesty and expertise. Folow me on letterboxd
