HBO Max’s acclaimed crime drama 4 Blocks has a brand new chapter to explore. Its eight-episode prequel titled 4 Blocks Zero begins streaming today, September 25, on the streaming platform.
The new series takes viewers back several decades before the original show’s events. It moves the story to 1990s Berlin, where the Hamady family is trying to build a new life. New episodes will arrive weekly through the season, with the finale scheduled for November 13.
The prequel expands the world of the acclaimed German crime drama
4 Blocks Zero explores how the Hamady family first became connected to Berlin’s criminal underworld. The family has fled Lebanon and faces bureaucracy, social exclusion, and uncertainty while trying to settle in Germany. Their difficult situation gradually pulls them toward the criminal structures that shape their future.
The story also introduces younger versions of important members of the Hamady family. Tareq Nassery plays Ali, who later becomes known as Toni Hamady in 4 Blocks. Rami Fadel Khalaf plays his father Malik, while Soufiane El Mesaudi portrays his brother Abbas.
Tariq Al-Saies also stars as Ibrahim, whose return from prison changes the family’s situation. Ibrahim has spent eight years behind bars before coming back to Berlin. His arrival brings a dangerous secret that draws the family deeper into the city’s criminal world.
The HBO Original comes from the team behind the original 4 Blocks series. Özgür Yıldırım and Hüseyin Tabak direct the prequel, with Bernd Lange serving as head writer alongside Bahar Bektaş, Natalie Zoghbi and Hassan Akkouch. W&B Television produces the eight-part drama for HBO.
Unlike a continuation, 4 Blocks Zero works as an origin story for the Hamady family. It gives viewers a look at the circumstances that eventually shape Ali’s path toward becoming Toni. The prequel therefore adds earlier family history while expanding the established 4 Blocks universe.