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According to Deadline, FX has officially picked up The Shards, a limited series adaptation of the novel of the same title by Bret Easton Ellis. The project reunites Ellis with producer Ryan Murphy, who are both on board as executive producers, in addition to Max Winkler (also directing), Nick Hall, Kathleen McCaffrey, and Brian Young. The project is being developed under 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television.
Announced in July of 2025, the show is in early development. Core casting has been confirmed, but FX has released no production schedule or release window. No writing staff or showrunner has been announced, and no episode count has been established.
Plot and background of The Shards
The Shards is a 1981 Los Angeles-set film that revolves around Bret, a Buckley School student, aged 17. Bret grows more and more suspicious of new classmate Robert Mallory, whose arrival around the same time as a series of gruesome murders from The Trawler killer catches their eye. As Bret's paranoia grows worse, adolescent terror, shattered identity, and false memory are explored throughout the narrative.
The semi-autobiographical novel draws upon a fictionalized Ellis as the narrator. First published in serialized audio format on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the novel was revised and printed later. Although some international releases note 2023 as the publication date, the physical U.S. release occurred in 2021.
Confirmed cast as of July 2025
FX officially confirmed the lead cast in July 2025:
- Igby Rigney (The Midnight Club) will play Bret Easton Ellis.
- Richard Gere's son, actor Homer Gere, has been cast as Robert Mallory.
- Graham Campbell will be Thom Wright, who is one of Bret's best friends.
- Kaia Gerber is still officially on board with the project, although her exact role remains unclear.
Only these four names are currently officially linked to the show.
Production status and development history
The Shards is in development as a limited series with no premiere date or production start-up announced. FX has made no announcement of footage, trailers, or promotional images, nor are there any production stills. Max Winkler has been confirmed to direct, with no other writing or directing credits publicly announced.
The development was first in the works at HBO, with directors including Luca Guadagnino and Kristoffer Borgli set to helm at the time. However, the project got stuck at HBO and was subsequently acquired by FX. The shift is in line with Murphy's longtime working relationship with FX and the network's proven track record of backing limited series.
Creative team and distribution plans
The creative team on The Shards is:
- Ryan Murphy – Executive Producer
- Bret Easton Ellis – Executive Producer
- Max Winkler – Executive Producer and Director
- Nick Hall, Kathleen McCaffrey, Brian Young – Executive Producers
It is produced by 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television, although no head writer or showrunner has been publicly announced as of July 2025.
It is anticipated that the series will launch on FX and stream on Hulu, by the network's usual distribution strategy for original content.
FX's The Shards is officially underway with a creative team that features both the author of the novel and one of television's busiest producers. Although the production remains in its nascent stages and a release date, writing team, and supporting cast are unrevealed, including a release date, writing staff, and supporting cast, the announced casting and production leadership demonstrate a clear vision for the adaptation.
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As more news surfaces, The Shards will keep people talking for its probing of psychological trauma, teenage paranoia, and its unsettling intersection of fact and fiction. For the time being, FX has placed the show as a prestigious addition to its expanding roster of limited dramas.
Also read: Ryan Murphy’s Love Story taps Omari K. Chancellor as real-life designer Gordon Henderson
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