Fans of "4 Blocks" should mark their calendars for September 25: That's when the prequel "4 Blocks Zero" launches on HBO Max. The eight episodes will be released weekly, with a new episode dropping every Friday. The official teaser has already been released, offering a first glimpse.
"4 Blocks Zero" tells the backstory of the award-winning original series. At its center is the question of how a refugee family became one of Berlin's most influential clans. To do so, the HBO Original returns to Berlin in the 1990s.
A family caught between authorities and the underworld
The Hamadys have fled Lebanon and are trying to build a new life in Berlin. Father Malik works as an unskilled cook, while he and his four children Ali, Abbas, Marwan and Amara must cope with prejudice and everyday life without secure residency permits.
The turning point comes in the form of brother-in-law Ibrahim, who shows up in the city after eight years in prison. What he sets in motion pulls the family into the dealings of Berlin's underworld, challenges their values and leads to a violent confrontation.
Who's in front of the camera
Tariq Al-Saies ("Liberame: Nach dem Sturm") plays Uncle Ibrahim, Tareq Nassery ("Alle Jahre wieder") takes on the role of young Ali, who later becomes known as Toni Hamady. Rami Fadel Khalaf ("Dirty, Difficult, Dangerous") appears as father Malik, Soufiane El Mesaudi ("Hype") as brother Abbas.
The family also includes grandmother Hanin (Fatima Khanfour), younger siblings Marwan (Almountaser "Monty" Alchltouh) and Amara (Siana Zayed), as well as cousin Latif (Mohammad Eliraqui). Luis Vorbach ("Totenfrau") portrays Vince Kerner. Additional cast members include Bella Dayne, Mohamed Kanj Khamis, Jule Hermann, Sevda Polat, Samir Salim, Enno Trebs and Mark Waschke ("Dark").
Familiar names behind the camera
The creative team includes several people involved with the original series. Directors are Özgür Yıldırım, who already helmed "4 Blocks", and Hüseyin Tabak ("Oscars Kleid"). The scripts were written by head writer Bernd Lange ("Die Kaiserin"), Bahar Bektaş ("Druck"), Natalie Zoghbi ("Der Alte") and Hassan Akkouch, who appeared in front of the camera as Maruf in "4 Blocks".
"4 Blocks" (2017-2019) is one of the most successful German drama series of recent years. The story about the Berlin-based Hamady clan was equally celebrated by critics and audiences, won numerous awards - including the Grimme Prize and the German Television Award - and found an international audience as well. The high-caliber ensemble included Kida Khodr Ramadan as clan chief Toni Hamady, as well as Veysel Gelin, Frederick Lau, Sami Nasser, Almila Bagriacik, Maryam Zaree and Oliver Masucci.
