Kaia Gerber lands major lead in Ryan Murphy’s Dark New FX Series, The Shards

Kaia Gerber lands her first lead role in FX thriller series, The Shards, from top TV producer Ryan Murphy. Known for her work in American Horror Stories and Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, Gerber now takes centre stage in a psychological thriller based on Bret Easton Ellis’ semi-autobiographical novel.

The Shards is still in its initial preparation stages at FX and will be produced in conjunction with 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television. This marks yet another collaboration Murphy has with Gerber, as Max Winkler will direct the pilot after previously teaming up with Murphy.

What is The Shards about?

The Shards is set in Los Angeles in the year 1981. It is a blend of horror and coming-of-age, showcasing the affluence of prep schools alongside the outbreak of paranoia and horror. The story revolves around a 17-year-old named Bret attending Buckley School. His life takes a drastic turn when a new student, Robert Mallory, makes an appearance on the scene alongside a “The Trawler” serial killer who starts terrorising the city. Here’s how the book is described by the publisher:

“17-year-old Bret is a senior at the exclusive Buckley prep school when a new student arrives with a mysterious past. Robert Mallory is bright, handsome, charismatic, and shielding a secret from Bret and his friends even as he becomes a part of their tightly knit circle. Bret’s obsession with Mallory is equaled only by his increasingly unsettling preoccupation with the Trawler, a serial killer on the loose who seems to be drawing ever closer to Bret and his friends, taunting them — and Bret in particular — with grotesque threats and horrific, sharply local acts of violence.”

Described as both a “psychological thriller” and an “unreliable memoir” by Ellis, The Shards is a deep dive into the waters of obsession, identity, violence, and other poignant themes portrayed in Ellis’s and Ryan Murphy’s striking storytelling worlds. While Gerber’s exact role has not been confirmed, industry chatter hints she could even portray a gender-swapped version of the enigmatic Mallory.

Ryan Murphy and FX: A Match Made in Horror Heaven

The Shards will mark a return for Ryan to his well-known genre of horror, wrapped in a perfect blend of LA and psychological thriller. The last project of Ryan includes Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and has multiple series lined up, including 9-1-1: Nashville, All’s Fair with Kim Kardashian, and American Love Story.

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The project is noteworthy given its long road to adaptation. The book was first released as a serialised audiobook before being published in 2023. Filmmakers like Luca Guadagnino and Kristoffer Borgli, together with HBO, made attempts to adapt the book, but the project fell through.

Backed by Murphy’s creative vision and Ellis’ eerie narrative, The Shards is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated series on FX. With themes of murder, obsession, and 1980s glamour gone dark, this is Ryan Murphy at his best — and Kaia Gerber may just be his next breakout star.

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