Bret Easton Ellis and television producer Ryan Murphy have joined forces to adapt Ellis’s 2023 novel The Shards into a neo-noir series debuting Wednesday on Disney+, according to critics and production announcements. The project pairs two creators known for exploring youth, wealth, and dark subcultures against a stylized 1980s backdrop.
The Shards Plot and Setting in 1980s Beverly Hills
Set in 1980, the series follows a 17-year-old fictionalized version of Ellis—played by Igby Rigney—who lives as a Stephen King fan navigating a secret gay life while dating the prettiest girl in his high school, according to the source material. The plot centers on his growing obsession with an enigmatic new classmate named Robert, portrayed by Homer Gere, the son of Richard. Robert drives a Porsche around Los Angeles while a series of horrific murders unfolds in Beverly Hills. Living in a period marked by intense paranoia regarding outing, the teenage Ellis suspects that Robert has a direct connection to the violent crimes.
Aesthetic Choices and Creative Lineage
The production relies heavily on a distinct visual and auditory style characteristic of both creators. The cast features uniformly polished actors, while the soundtrack incorporates new-age standards, and the color palette draws inspiration from early David Cronenberg films and 1980s cinema like Risky Business, according to reviewers. The narrative functions as a thematic companion to Ellis’s 1985 novel Less Than Zero, continuing their shared fascination with wealth, serial killers, and alienated youth that previously manifested in works such as Ellis’s American Psycho and Murphy’s television adaptations of real-world crimes.
Did you know?
Homer Gere, who stars as the mysterious classmate Robert in The Shards, is the son of Richard.
Redemption and Career Context for Ellis and Murphy
Both creators enter this release following distinct career trajectories over recent decades. Ellis spent years outside mainstream literary prominence after his 1980s output, facing criticism for his 2019 non-fiction book White. Murphy arrives after a mixed critical reception for projects including Netflix’s Dahmer and The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, though he also delivered high- viewership titles for Disney+ such as Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette. Reviewers note that The Shards offers a stylistic return to form for both figures through its high-gloss, provocative approach to the slasher genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does The Shards premiere?
The Shards premieres on Wednesday on Disney+.
Who plays the teenage version of Bret Easton Ellis?
Actor Igby Rigney plays the 17-year-old fictionalized stand-in for the author.
Is The Shards based on a book?
Yes, the series is adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 novel of the same name.
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