If you’re at all familiar with the Bret Eston Ellis 2023 novel of the same name, you probably figured The Shards was going to be a wild ride. And though we only have the trailer to base it on, it seems like that would have probably been a fair assumption.
The show, set in 1980s Los Angeles, focuses on “a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession, and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence,” per FX’s official description. But this isn’t YA teenage drama, no. This is psychological horror and murder mystery featuring teenagers.
Which only makes it worse.
If you’re wondering what to expect, you can watch the trailer below:
The synopsis for the show reads:
FX’s ”The Shards” is a seductive drama series from executive producer Ryan Murphy, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.
At its center is Bret (Igby Rigney), an aspiring writer and keenly observant teenager whose reality begins to unravel with the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere). Transferring in just before his senior year, Robert’s appearance coincides with the growing terror of The Trawler, a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city.
Alongside Bret is his elite social circle, which consists of Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), a glamorous and deeply entangled group drawn into a life of wealth, beauty, parties and excess. The promise of their youth is contrasted with the dark and cynical world of the adults surrounding them: Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley), Liz Schaffer (Evan Rachel Wood) and Steven Reinhardt (Jordan Roth).
A fusion of the voices of two of America’s most provocative storytellers — Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis — FX’s “The Shards” is executive produced by Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Ellis, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Tanase Popa, Nick Hall, Michael Uppendahl, Max Winkler, Kathleen McCaffrey and Brian Young. It is produced by 20th Television.
FX’s The Shards premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, August 5 at 9pm ET on Hulu and FX.
