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Ryan Murphy Brings Bret Easton Ellis’s The Shards to Television

The FX-produced series will arrive on Disney+ in early August 2026 and reframes Ellis’s autofiction as a restrained psychological thriller.

Overview

  • Murphy adapted Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 novel The Shards for a serialized TV series produced under the FX banner and slated to debut on Disney+ in early August 2026.
  • Early reviews note a deliberate shift from Murphy’s graphic horror toward steady psychological suspense that emphasizes tension over overt gore.
  • A young ensemble anchors the show with Igby Rigney as the lead Bret, Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds, Homer Gere as Robert Mallory, and Hayley Warner singled out for a standout performance.
  • The production leans heavily into an immersive 1980s Los Angeles design with period costumes, cars and a prominent soundtrack crafted by costume designers Lou Eyrich and Josh Marsh.
  • Murphy takes clear creative liberties with the source material by adding characters and reshaping plot elements, a choice that changes story beats for viewers familiar with the book and may broaden the show’s appeal.