Sylvester Stallone to Adapt J.D. Barker’s ‘The Fourth Monkey’ Into New Serial Killer Series

Sylvester Stallone is moving into the world of dark crime television with a new project based on J.D. Barker’s “The Fourth Monkey” book series.

According to Deadline, Stallone’s Balboa Productions is teaming up with writer and producer Channing Powell, known for her work on The Walking Dead, to develop the adaptation. The series is still in early development and will be built around Barker’s intense serial killer story.

The original novels follow Detective Sam Porter as he tracks a brutal killer known as the Four Monkey Killer. The murderer operates with a disturbing code based on “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,” targeting victims in a ritualistic way. The case becomes even darker as the story explores a hidden message behind the killings and the idea of “do no evil,” which ties into exposing corruption through extreme and violent methods.

The project is being developed for television with Powell set to write, showrun, and executive produce alongside Stallone and D. Matt Geller. Christian Bersani is overseeing development for Balboa Productions. The adaptation is based on a trilogy of novels, with more books expanding the universe already in the works.

Stallone said in a statement shared by Deadline that the material has strong potential for television. He said, “J.D. Barker has created a world with enormous scale, real danger, a ruthless narrative engine, and the kind of mythology that is tailor-made for premium television.” He also praised Powell, adding that she is “exactly the right force to bring 4MK to the screen.”

Channing Powell also shared her thoughts on the project, saying, “What drew me to 4MK immediately was its intensity, its intelligence, and the way it keeps tightening the screws until you can barely breathe.” She added that the story explores guilt, justice, and corruption in a deeply emotional way.

Author J.D. Barker also expressed excitement about the adaptation. He said, “From the start, 4MK was designed to be a relentless, psychologically charged ride.” He also noted that Stallone and Powell bring the right creative energy to make the series work on screen.

Sylvester Stallone is best known for major film franchises like Rocky and Rambo, as well as The Expendables. This new project marks another step into television for his production company, while Channing Powell continues her long-running work in television drama.

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