1981 was brutal. Just ask Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis. The third trailer for Ryan Murphy’s 10-episode series adaptation of The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellis’ 2023 novel, really wants you to know how tough teenagers had it back in 1981. And, to be fair, between the cutthroat social hierarchy and an actual serial killer on the loose, they might actually have a point.
Set in sunny, sinister 1981 Los Angeles, this semi-autobiographical, dark coming-of-age story follows 17-year-old Bret during his senior year at the uber-elite Buckley School. His privileged, paranoia-fueled world starts unraveling with the arrival of a mysterious new transfer student, Robert Mallory. However, Robert’s unsettling charm conveniently coincides with a brutal spree by a killer known as “The Trawler.”
An All-Star Cast
Igby Rigney (The Fall of the House of Usher) takes center stage as young Bret Easton Ellis. He’s joined by Homer Gere (The Agency, and yes, Richard Gere’s son), who steps into the brooding shoes of new kid Robert Mallory. Graham Campbell plays Thom. Rounding out the ensemble are Kaia Gerber, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley, and Hayes Warner.
Frequent Murphy collaborator Max Winkler (American Horror Story, Grotesquerie) directs, with 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television producing.
When to Watch
“The Shards” premieres August 5 at 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu. Check out the bloody, backstabbing trailer below.
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