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FX/Hulu Launches “The Shards” — 1981 LA Killer Drama

8/6/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The FX and Hulu series “The Shards” premieres on August 5, 2026.
It follows fictional 17-year-old Bret Easton Ellis in 1981 Los Angeles as he writes *Less Than Zero* while the serial killer “The Trawler” murders teens.
Co-creator Ryan Murphy adapts the novel with 1980s New Wave music and adult actors as teens, which critics describe as visually striking yet narratively uneven.

History

Historical Context

David Lynch and Mark Frost launched the surreal murder-mystery Twin Peaks on ABC on April 8 1990, earning a 22-point pilot rating and 14 Emmy nominations and sparking the “water-cooler” phenomenon that reshaped prestige TV. The show’s blend of literary intrigue and serial-killer drama set a template that the 2026 FX/Hulu series The Shards, starring Bret Easton Ellis, now follows.

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Story summary

The FX and Hulu series “The Shards” premieres on August 5, 2026.
It follows fictional 17-year-old Bret Easton Ellis in 1981 Los Angeles as he writes *Less Than Zero* while the serial killer “The Trawler” murders teens.
Co-creator Ryan Murphy adapts the novel with 1980s New Wave music and adult actors as teens, which critics describe as visually striking yet narratively uneven.

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