HBO has given an eight-episode, straight-to-series order for The Chain, a new limited series written and executive produced by Emmy-winner Damon Lindelof (HBO’s The Leftovers, Watchmen).

Based on the acclaimed New York Times bestselling book by Adrian McKinty, The Chain is a thriller built around a “coercion scheme with a simple, brutal rule: to save your kidnapped child, you must kidnap...