Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’ adapts Bret Easton Ellis novel

Ryan Murphy’s new FX thriller series, ‘The Shards’, is a television adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 semi-autobiographical novel. Set in 1981 Los Angeles, the show follows a group of wealthy high school seniors navigating social rituals and a serial killer known as ‘The Trawler’.

Production details reveal that Ellis requested the story not be treated as a limited series, expressing a desire for more screen time to allow for a longer-running dramatic series. The production utilizes various real Los Angeles locations, including the Pacific Coast Highway and Westwood Village, to recreate the 1980s atmosphere. The series features a cast including Kaia Gerber, Homer Gere, and Jordan Roth, with costume designers focusing on authentic period pieces from 1978 to 1981.

Following the premiere on August 5, 2026, the series is releasing episodes on FX and streaming via Hulu and Disney+. Episode 5, titled ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, is scheduled for release on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.