Ryan Murphy Reveals Secrets Behind Adapting 'The Shards' for TV
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy, Bret Easton Ellis, Igby Rigney, Kaia Gerber, Homer Gere, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley, Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobson
WHAT:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis have been plotting a three-season series from the start, stating, “It certainly will launch discussions.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy described the casting process as involving “months and months and months of auditioning,” with many actors reading for three or four different parts.
The Hollywood Reporter - The Shards is described as a “whodunnit” that explores themes of intimacy intertwined with trauma and the AIDS epidemic.
The Hollywood Reporter - The Shards is a TV adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' 2023 autofiction horror novel.
The Hollywood Reporter - The show premiered with its first two episodes, part of a total of nine episodes.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy stated, “We saw 500 actors for these parts” during the casting process.
The Hollywood Reporter - The first two episodes were co-written by Bret Easton Ellis and Ryan Murphy.
The Hollywood Reporter - The show is described as a metaphor for AIDS and explores themes of intimacy intertwined with trauma.
The Hollywood Reporter - The Shards will release two episodes on August 12, one on August 19, two on August 26, and one per week through the finale on September 9.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - The Shards is set in Los Angeles.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - The Shards was first in development at HBO before Ryan Murphy acquired the rights in February 2025.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy expressed a long-standing desire to adapt Bret Easton Ellis' work, stating, “I always wanted to do something adapting Bret’s work.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Bret Easton Ellis wanted a more hands-off approach with this adaptation due to previous creative differences with HBO.
HOW:
Variety - Ryan Murphy emphasized that filming in Los Angeles was a “non-negotiable” aspect of the production, stating, “We shot it in L.A. and, of course, it could have shot in Canada.”
The Hollywood Reporter - Ryan Murphy approached the adaptation with a personal connection to the year 1981, stating, “That was the year I turned 16. That was my first date. My first driving lesson. I lost my virginity.”
The Hollywood Reporter - The casting process involved extensive auditions, with many actors reading for multiple roles.
(UPDATED August 7, 2026 00:51 UTC)
Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis are developing a three-season series titled "The Shards," which is described as a whodunnit that delves into themes of intimacy, trauma, and the AIDS epidemic. Murphy noted that the casting process took months, with many actors auditioning for multiple roles. He also emphasized that filming in Los Angeles was a non-negotiable aspect of the production, stating that while it could have been shot in Canada, they chose to shoot it in L.A.
--
(UPDATED August 6, 2026 18:40 UTC)
The highly anticipated TV adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' 2023 autofiction horror novel, The Shards, has premiered its first two episodes, with a total of nine episodes planned. Co-written by Ryan Murphy and Ellis, the show delves into themes of intimacy and trauma, serving as a metaphor for AIDS, and is set in Los Angeles. The Shards will release two episodes on August 12, one on August 19, two on August 26, and continue with one episode per week, culminating in the finale on September 9.