'The Shards' trailer puts drugs and murder at center of FX drama
FX has released the first trailer for Ryan Murphy's The Shards, a drama where drugs, sex and murder haunt wealthy Los Angeles teenagers caught in 1980s private-school culture. The preview arrives ahead of an Aug. 5 premiere with two episodes on FX and Hulu.
'The Shards' trailer drugs, sex and murder backdrop matters because it is viewers' first extended look at Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis's adaptation of Ellis's 2023 autofictional thriller before the summer debut.
Key Takeaways
- FX dropped the first trailer for Ryan Murphy's The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellis's 2023 thriller novel.
- The series premieres with two episodes on Aug. 5 on FX and Hulu.
- Rich L.A. teens face drugs, sex and a San Fernando Valley serial killer in 1980s prep-school culture.
- Igby Rigney stars as Bret, who suspects new student Robert Mallory as murders escalate.
- Kaia Gerber, Wes Bentley and Evan Rachel Wood round out the ensemble cast.
What does the 'The Shards' trailer show?
Drugs, sex and murder frame Ryan Murphy's upcoming FX drama, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis's thriller novel. The trailer follows a group of rich teenagers indulging in the excesses of 1980s private-school culture in Los Angeles while a serial killer closes in.
When new student Robert Mallory, played by Homer Gere, arrives alongside grisly murders across the San Fernando Valley, narrator Bret, played by Igby Rigney, races to solve the mystery before it is too late for him and his friends. In the preview, Bret tries to convince his circle that Robert is a psycho as horrifying violence creeps closer.
Who stars in 'The Shards' on FX?
Beyond Rigney and Gere, the ensemble includes Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds, Hayes Warner as Debbie Schaffer and Graham Campbell as Thom Wright. Wes Bentley plays Terry Schaffer, Evan Rachel Wood portrays Liz Schaffer and Jordan Roth appears as Steven Reinhardt.
The cast anchors a story co-created by Murphy, whose recent work includes Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Love Story, and Ellis, author of Less Than Zero and American Psycho. Ellis wrote the scripts from his own 2023 bestseller.
When and where can you watch 'The Shards'?
FX released the trailer ahead of an Aug. 5 premiere, when two episodes launch on the cable channel and Hulu. The rollout gives subscribers a first extended glimpse of the series before the summer debut.
For more premiere dates and streaming updates, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage. Full trailer details are available via Variety.
Who is producing 'The Shards'?
Murphy and Ellis executive produce alongside Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Tanase Popa, Nick Hall, Michael Uppendahl, Max Winkler, Kathleen McCaffrey and Brian Young. The series is produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television.
Variety reports that FX invited viewers to watch the trailer below its announcement, marking the show's most visible marketing push yet ahead of launch.