Ryan Murphy is adding another stylish nightmare to his ever-expanding TV empire. This time, he’s turning his attention to The Shards, Bret Easton Ellis’s moody, semi-autobiographical 2023 novel set in the glossy, sun-drenched — and deeply sinister — world of 1980s Los Angeles. The FX project is currently in early development, with Kaia Gerber tapped for a starring role and Max Winkler set to direct.
The story follows 17-year-old Bret, a student at an elite prep school, who becomes fixated on a mysterious new classmate — just as a serial killer dubbed 'The Trawler' begins closing in on his social circle. It’s a potent mix of adolescent paranoia, romantic obsession, and mounting dread — all filtered through the perspective of a narrator who may not be entirely reliable.
Gerber is no stranger to Murphy’s world, having appeared in American Horror Story and American Horror Stories. Her latest role continues a productive collaboration with the producer, who is also busy prepping several other projects, including The Beauty and a Kim Kardashian-led legal drama for Hulu. If greenlit, The Shards will mark another entry in Murphy’s signature blend of the glamorous and grotesque.
As for Ellis, whose name remains synonymous with high-gloss nihilism, this will be the latest screen adaptation of his work — and perhaps the most personal yet.
