Ryan Murphy Brings Bret Easton Ellis’s *The Shards* to FX and Hulu

*The Shards*, Bret Easton Ellis’s semi-autobiographical 2023 novel, debuted as a nine-episode series on FX and Hulu on August 5, 2026. The show follows a fictional teenage Ellis in elite Los Angeles prep schools in 1981 while a serial killer known as the Trawler stalks the city. Episodes air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, with the finale slated for September 9.

When do new episodes of The Shards drop? Here's the Hulu release schedule

Ellis first sold adaptation rights to HBO, where director Luca Guadagnino was attached and a budget north of $100 million was discussed. Creative differences and a budget cut by Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav led HBO to cancel the project in late 2024. Ryan Murphy, a longtime Ellis fan, acquired the rights, secured Ellis’s first two scripts, and placed the series at FX with an episode budget of roughly $8 million. Ellis is credited as co-developer, co-writer of the opening two episodes, and executive producer, though his on-screen presence is limited.

Hollywood Reporter

• Episodes: 9 total, released over six weeks.

When do new episodes of The Shards drop? Here's the Hulu release schedule

• Production budget: ~ $8 million per episode (FX).

When do new episodes of The Shards drop? Here's the Hulu release schedule

• Original HBO budget speculation: Over $100 million (industry sources).

Hollywood Reporter

• Key cast: Igby Rigney as Bret Ellis, Homer Gere as Robert Mallory, Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds, Hayes Warner as Debbie Schaffer, Graham Campbell as Thom Wright; adult roles include Evan Rachel Wood and Wes Bentley.

Why Everyone Is Talking About The Shards, Ryan Murphy’s Dark New Take on 1980’s Los Angeles

Murphy emphasized his “greenlight power” at FX and said he would honor Ellis’s request for an expansive series rather than a limited run. He noted that early screenings of the first two episodes were shown to Ellis and his team and were received as “successful.” Murphy also asked that the story receive as much screen time as possible, envisioning a multi-year arc.

Variety Magazine

The adaptation pairs two polarizing creators: Ellis, known for controversial works such as *American Psycho*, and Murphy, whose catalog includes *Glee* and *American Horror Story*. The series blends teen drama, psychological thriller, and period-piece aesthetics, offering a lens on 1980s Los Angeles culture while probing privilege, paranoia, and the line between observation and imagination. Its release strategy—multiple two-episode weeks followed by single-episode drops—has generated strong streaming performance on Hulu and Disney+, despite mixed critical reception.

When do new episodes of The Shards drop? Here's the Hulu release schedule

• “Bret was kind of heartbroken about it, and he kept saying, ‘I know this is never going to get made,’” — Ryan Murphy

The Independent

• “The thing that was very consistent about Norman was that he always said to never listen to anybody but your inner voice,” — Ryan Murphy

Variety Magazine

• “It ended up being a very good experience, and I hope he’s proud,” — Ryan Murphy

Variety Magazine

• “I know which ones the fans liked the most. They love ‘Murder House’, ‘Asylum,’ ‘Coven,’ ‘Freak Show,’ and they loved ‘Cult,’” — Murphy.

Variety Magazine