4 Blocks Zero Season 1: Release Date, Cast, Story, Episodes & Where to Watch
4 Blocks Zero takes viewers back to the beginning of the Hamady family's story. Set in 1990s Berlin, the eight-episode HBO Original drama explores the years before the events of 4 Blocks, following the family as they try to establish a new life in Germany.
The series arrives on September 25, 2026, with new episodes released weekly on HBO Max. At the center of the story are Ali Hamady, the character who will later become known as Toni Hamady, his father Malik, his uncle Ibrahim and the rest of the family.
4 Blocks Zero is an eight-part prequel to the acclaimed German crime drama 4 Blocks. Season 1 premieres September 25, 2026 on HBO Max and releases one episode every Friday. The story follows the Hamadys after their move from Lebanon to Germany and shows the circumstances that begin shaping the family's future.
What Is 4 Blocks Zero About?
4 Blocks Zero is a prequel to 4 Blocks, moving the timeline back to the Hamady family's early years in Berlin. Rather than beginning with the established criminal empire, the new series focuses on the family's attempts to build a life in Germany during the 1990s.
Malik Hamady has fled Lebanon with his four children and mother-in-law. He wants to provide a safer and better future for his family, but establishing themselves in Germany is difficult. The family faces bureaucracy, prejudice and the pressures of everyday life while trying to find a place in their new surroundings.
The situation changes when Malik's brother-in-law Ibrahim is released from prison after eight years. Ibrahim returns to the family carrying a dangerous secret, setting off a chain of events that pulls the Hamadys closer to Berlin's criminal underworld.
The series therefore works as an origin story for the family seen in 4 Blocks, showing how personal decisions, family loyalties and difficult circumstances contribute to the path that eventually leads Ali Hamady toward becoming Toni.
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 Release Date
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 premieres Friday, September 25, 2026, on HBO Max. The series has eight episodes, with one new episode arriving each Friday.
Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed the eight-part HBO Original's September 25 launch and weekly rollout. The official trailer also confirms the September 25 premiere date.
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 Episode Schedule
Season 1 consists of eight episodes. The published schedule runs from September 25 through the season finale on November 13, 2026.
| Episode | Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | September 25, 2026 | Premiere |
| Episode 2 | October 2, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 3 | October 9, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 4 | October 16, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 5 | October 23, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 6 | October 30, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 7 | November 6, 2026 | Weekly Release |
| Episode 8 | November 13, 2026 | Season Finale |
Episode titles have not been consistently published in the available official listings, so the table uses episode numbers rather than inventing titles. The eight-episode order and weekly schedule are listed by TV episode databases and HBO Max release information.
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 Cast
The main cast is built around the younger generation of the Hamady family and the relatives who surround them. Tareq Nassery plays Ali Hamady, while Tariq Al-Saies plays Ibrahim, whose return from prison becomes an important catalyst in the story.
Ali Hamady
Ibrahim Mansour
Malik Hamady
Abbas Hamady
Hanin Hamady
Marwan Hamady
Amara Hamady
Latif
Vince Kerner
Cornelia Lackner
Elif Baysal
Additional role
The announced ensemble also includes Mohamed Kanj Khamis, Jule Hermann, Samir Salim and Enno Trebs. HBO Max's cast announcement identifies Nassery as Ali, the character later known as Toni Hamady, while Khalaf plays his father Malik and El Mesaudi plays his brother Abbas.
Who Plays Ali Hamady in 4 Blocks Zero?
Tareq Nassery plays Ali Hamady in 4 Blocks Zero. This version of Ali is the younger character who will eventually become Toni Hamady, the central figure of the original 4 Blocks story.
The prequel gives the character a different starting point, before the Hamady family has become the powerful criminal clan audiences know from the original series.
Who Plays Ibrahim in 4 Blocks Zero?
Tariq Al-Saies plays Ibrahim Mansour, Ali's uncle. Ibrahim returns home after spending eight years in prison, but his arrival is accompanied by a dangerous secret that begins to change the family's circumstances.
Ibrahim's storyline is one of the key links between the family's attempt to establish a normal life and the criminal world that gradually becomes part of their future.
Who Plays Malik Hamady?
Rami Fadel Khalaf plays Malik Hamady, Ali's father. Malik has moved his family from Lebanon to Germany and is determined to create a better future for his children.
His efforts are complicated by social exclusion, financial and bureaucratic obstacles and Ibrahim's return from prison. Malik represents the family's attempt to build a stable life before criminal ambitions begin to dominate their story.
Who Are the Creators of 4 Blocks Zero?
4 Blocks Zero is produced by W&B Television for HBO Max. The writing team includes Bernd Lange as head writer, alongside Bahar Bektaş, Natalie Zoghbi and Hassan Akkouch.
The series is directed by Özgür Yıldırım and Hüseyin Tabak. Yıldırım was also involved with the original 4 Blocks, giving the prequel a direct creative connection to the franchise.
Is 4 Blocks Zero a Prequel to 4 Blocks?
Yes. 4 Blocks Zero is a prequel to 4 Blocks. The series moves the story back to the 1990s and explores the Hamady family's early years in Berlin.
Instead of continuing the original series' timeline, the new drama asks how the family arrived in Germany, how Ali developed into the future Toni Hamady and how the circumstances surrounding the family helped lay the groundwork for the criminal empire shown in 4 Blocks.
Where to Watch 4 Blocks Zero Season 1
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 is streaming on HBO Max. The first episode arrives on September 25, 2026, followed by one new episode every Friday.
HBO Max's September programming announcement lists the series as an HBO Original drama with eight episodes and a weekly release schedule.
4 Blocks Zero premieres September 25, 2026 on HBO Max. Season 1 has eight episodes, released weekly through November 13.
4 Blocks Zero Trailer
HBO Max released the official trailer on September 8, 2026. The trailer introduces the Hamadys in 1990s Berlin and presents the series as the beginning of the story audiences have not previously seen. HBO Max's official trailer confirms the September 25 premiere.
Is 4 Blocks Zero Based on a True Story?
4 Blocks Zero is a fictional crime drama and prequel to the fictional series 4 Blocks. Its story is set against the social and political realities of 1990s Berlin and follows a fictional family as it tries to establish itself in Germany.
The series uses the Hamady family's fictional history to explore themes including immigration, family loyalty, social exclusion, identity and the pressures that can push people toward Berlin's criminal underworld.
What Does 4 Blocks Zero Add to the Original Series?
The biggest difference is the timeline. 4 Blocks Zero goes back to a period when the Hamady family has not yet reached the position seen in the original series.
That allows the prequel to focus on characters such as Ali, Malik, Abbas and Ibrahim at earlier points in their lives. It also gives viewers additional context for how the family became one of Berlin's most powerful clans.
The series is therefore designed as an origin chapter rather than another continuation of the original show's storyline.
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 Quick Facts
| Title | 4 Blocks Zero |
|---|---|
| Season | Season 1 |
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Setting | 1990s Berlin |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Premiere | September 25, 2026 |
| Release Pattern | Weekly, Fridays |
| Platform | HBO Max |
| Production Company | W&B Television |
| Directors | Özgür Yıldırım, Hüseyin Tabak |
| Head Writer | Bernd Lange |
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 FAQs
When does 4 Blocks Zero Season 1 premiere?
4 Blocks Zero Season 1 premieres September 25, 2026, on HBO Max.
How many episodes are in 4 Blocks Zero Season 1?
Season 1 has eight episodes, released weekly.
Where can I watch 4 Blocks Zero?
4 Blocks Zero is available on HBO Max.
Is 4 Blocks Zero a prequel?
Yes. It is a prequel to 4 Blocks and explores the Hamady family's early years in 1990s Berlin.
Who plays young Ali Hamady?
Tareq Nassery plays Ali Hamady, the character who later becomes known as Toni Hamady.
Who plays Ibrahim in 4 Blocks Zero?
Tariq Al-Saies plays Ibrahim Mansour, Ali's uncle who returns after eight years in prison.
When is the 4 Blocks Zero Season 1 finale?
The currently published schedule places Episode 8, the Season 1 finale, on November 13, 2026.