# Release of 4 Blocks Zero prequel series > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-4-blocks-zero-prequel-series > Updated: 2026-09-24T20:42:45.000Z. Sources: 23. Developments: 3. HBO Max is scheduled to release ‘4 Blocks Zero’, an eight-part prequel to the German crime drama ‘4 Blocks’. Set in 1990s Berlin-Neukölln, the series follows the Hamady family as they arrive as refugees from Lebanon and details their rise to becoming an influential clan. The narrative explores the family’s struggle to establish a life while facing social exclusion, bureaucratic hurdles, and precarious residency statuses. The show tracks their evolution from refugees attempting to live legitimate lives to becoming a powerful criminal organization. On September 25, 2026, the series officially premieres. The plot focuses on Malik Hamady and his four children—Ali, Abbas, Marwan, and Amara—as they navigate life without secure residency permits. The narrative is expected to intensify with the return of Ibrahim, Malik’s brother-in-law, following an eight-year prison sentence, an event that triggers the family’s involvement in the Berlin criminal underworld. Episodes are set for weekly release on Fridays, with the season scheduled to conclude on November 13, 2026. To mark the premiere, a pop-up event is scheduled in Neukölln on September 26 and 27, featuring music, food, and a screening of the first episode. The original ‘4 Blocks’ production, which focused on the criminal activities of the family led by Ali ‘Toni’ Hamady, received various accolades including the Grimme Preis and multiple German Television Awards. ## Claims - HBO Max is releasing the prequel series ‘4 Blocks Zero’. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The series ‘4 Blocks Zero’ consists of eight episodes. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The original ‘4 Blocks’ series premiered in 2017. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The prequel is set in the 1990s. (single source) - The story follows the Hamady family as refugees from Lebanon arriving in Berlin. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-24: HBO Max premieres ‘4 Blocks Zero’ prequel series The crime prequel series ‘4 Blocks Zero’ premieres on HBO Max on September 25, 2026, following the Hamady family's rise in 1990s Berlin through an eight-episode weekly release. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hbo-max-premieres-4-blocks-zero-prequel-series ### 2026-09-22: HBO Max to release ‘4 Blocks Zero’ prequel series HBO Max will release ‘4 Blocks Zero’ on September 25, an eight-part prequel to the acclaimed German crime series exploring the Hamady family's origins in 1990s Berlin. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hbo-max-to-release-4-blocks-zero-prequel-series ### 2026-09-18: Streaming highlights: 4 Blocks Zero and new series premieres Upcoming streaming highlights include the Berlin-set crime prequel ‘4 Blocks Zero’ on HBO Max and ‘The Love Hypothesis’ on Prime Video, alongside new series on Apple TV+ and Netflix. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/streaming-and-television-highlights-feature-4-blocks-zero-prequel --- Cite as: Release of 4 Blocks Zero prequel series. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-4-blocks-zero-prequel-series