Ryan Murphy’s “The Shards” trailer unveils 1980s teen thriller
The first trailer for Ryan Murphy’s new FX series The Shards has been released. The eight‑part psychological thriller adapts Bret Easton Ellis’s semi‑autobiographical 2023 novel and is set in 1981 Los Angeles. It follows privileged seniors at the elite Buckley prep school, centering on aspiring writer Bret (Igby Rigney). Bret’s world unravels after the arrival of enigmatic transfer student Robert Mallory (Homer Gere) and the emergence of a serial killer dubbed “The Trawler” who is targeting teenagers across the city. The trailer highlights the series’ mix of 1980s glamour, sex, drugs, queer subtext and a looming murder mystery.
The Shards will premiere with its first two episodes on August 5 2026 (U.S.) on FX and Hulu, and will stream internationally on Disney+. The production is by 20th Television with Murphy, Ellis and a large executive‑producer team, and features a cast that includes Kaia Gerber, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood and Jordan Roth. The show promises a stylised blend of nostalgic excess and dark suspense.