On August 5, one of the most anticipated series of the summer will premiere on the FX channel — "The Shards" by Ryan Murphy. This is an adaptation of the bestseller of the same name by writer Bret Easton Ellis, known worldwide for the novel "American Psycho".
Plot
Los Angeles, 1981. At the center of the story is 17-year-old Bret, who is in his final year at the elite Buckley preparatory school and wants to be a writer. Bret is handsome, wealthy, and has everything he desires. But his life is completely turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory. Coincidentally, Robert appears in the city at the same time that a serial killer known as the Trawler begins to commit evil in Los Angeles.
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“Everyone loves a good coming-of-age story,” teases Ryan Murphy, the Hollywood producer and director who brought us the TV hits "American Horror Story", "Pose", "Feud", "Hollywood". "The Shards" is his new project, which promises to be a major premiere of the summer, as it is a bold adaptation of one of the most iconic authors of modern America, the legendary Bret Easton Ellis, known for the novel "American Psycho". Judging by the trailer, an exciting thriller about sex, obsession, and fear awaits us.
Who is Bret Easton Ellis?
Ryan Murphy worked on the script for the series together with the author of the novel, Bret Easton Ellis, which gives hope that the script will be no less sharp and audacious than Ellis’s text itself.
Who is Bret Easton Ellis?
The future writer was born and raised in Los Angeles, and the peak of his adolescence occurred in the late 70s-early 80s. His childhood was not easy: Bret’s father was cruel to his son and wife, and later the writer would transfer some of his father’s traits to one of his most famous characters, Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho" – a New York maniac, psychopath, and murderer. In fact, cruelty in depicting human relationships, sex, and explicit violence are the traits that would make Ellis’s novels so popular, yet also controversial.
In 1985, his debut novel "Less Than Zero" was released, depicting the dissolute life of the spoiled “golden youth” of Los Angeles; in 1987, the second novel titled "The Rules of Attraction". In 1991, the author’s most scandalous work, "American Psycho", saw the light of day. Due to scenes of violence against women, the publisher “Simon & Schuster” refused to publish the novel, and the National Organization for Women declared a boycott of the book. However, in 2000, a film adaptation of the same name was released, starring Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, and Jared Leto in the leading roles, which became a film of a generation. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, Ellis released five novels that accurately and frankly conveyed the free yet cruel spirit of the times in which he grew up and formed, and therefore resonated deeply with the generation that was coming of age during that volatile period.
The novel "The Shards" (in English, TheShards) is Ellis’s most recent work, released in 2023. Critics call this book autofiction, as, according to the author’s confession, it is based on Ellis’s own traumatic experience: during his school years, a serial killer in Los Angeles posed a threat to teenagers. In the protagonist, the 17-year-old Bret, one can recognize Ellis himself: in his inclination towards writing, his extraordinary vulnerability, and also his bisexuality.
Cast
Ryan Murphy has assembled a stellar cast for "The Shards". The role of the aspiring writer Bret is played by 23-year-old Igby Rigney, known for the series "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Midnight Mass". In the series, Bret’s circle of friends includes Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Shaffer (Haze Warner), and Tom Wright (Graham Campbell). As for the charismatic and ambiguous Robert, whom Bret is captivated by, his role is embodied by 26-year-old Homer Gere, son of Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, and brother of Kaia Gerber.
Throughout the series, it is shown how Bret becomes increasingly wary of Robert, although his friends suspect nothing is wrong with Robert. “You always exaggerate everything,” says Susan, played by Gerber. However, the tension builds, which is already evident from the trailer — from its very first seconds, it’s clear that this glossy world will explode.
The first episodes of “The Shards” will be available on August 5.