Ryan Murphy’s 'The Shards' sets august premiere date on FX and Hulu

Ryan Murphy’s 'The Shards' premieres on FX and Hulu Aug 5, bringing Bret Easton Ellis’ thriller to TV official update

The Shards, the upcoming series from Ryan Murphy, is officially set to premiere on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. PT on FX and Hulu, according to Variety.

The series adapts Bret Easton Ellis’ autofiction thriller novel and transports viewers to 1980s Los Angeles, where high school senior Bret (Igby Rigney) begins to unravel as his world is disrupted by the arrival of new student Robert Mallory (Homer Gere). Their presence coincides with rising fear surrounding “The Trawler,” a serial killer targeting teenagers across the Valley.

As Bret’s imagination spirals, his relationships begin to fracture, including his romance with Debbie (Hayes Warner) and friendships with Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell). The show also explores the influence of adults in their orbit, including characters played by Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood and Jordan Roth.

Originally developed at HBO with director Luca Guadagnino attached, the project was later taken over by Murphy in 2025, who brought in director Max Winkler to steer the adaptation.

Produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television, The Shards continues Murphy’s recent run of high-profile television projects blending psychological tension, nostalgia and character-driven storytelling. The series is expected to be one of FX and Hulu’s major late-summer releases, expanding Murphy’s long-standing partnership with both platforms.