Ryan Murphy's 'The Shards' Adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis Novel Sets August 5 Premiere

Ryan Murphy's new series "The Shards," based on Bret Easton Ellis' prep school thriller novel, will premiere on August 5 on FX, Hulu, and Disney+ internationally, Deadline reported. The drama, produced by 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Productions, is described as a dark coming-of-age tale with semi-autobiographical elements for Ellis, set in 1981 Los Angeles and following a 17-year-old protagonist, according to Deadline.

DeadlineRyan Murphy's 'The Shards' Series Adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis Novel Premieres August 5 on FX and Hulu

Variety reported that the series will premiere on FX and Hulu at 6 p.m. PT on August 5. The dark coming-of-age drama is set in 1980s Los Angeles and follows aspiring writer Bret, whose life unravels when a new student arrives and a serial killer called the Trawler begins stalking teenagers across the Valley, Variety noted.

Variety'The Shards' Adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis Novel Premieres Aug. 5 on FX and Hulu

"The dark coming-of-age drama is set in 1980s Los Angeles and follows aspiring writer Bret, whose life unravels when a new student arrives." This setup echoes the autofiction style of Ellis' novel, blending real-life inspirations with thriller elements, as the story explores the unraveling of a teenager's world amid a serial killer's rampage.

Deadline emphasized the semi-autobiographical nature of the adaptation, noting that Ellis drew from his own experiences for the source material. The series marks another collaboration between Murphy and Ellis, following their work on "American Psycho" and other projects, though this adaptation brings the novel's specific 1981 Los Angeles setting to the screen.