The Shards Trailer: Ryan Murphy's New FX TV Show Is Full of Sex, Drugs, & Murder

The Shards, Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series, has released its first trailer and centers on a high-stakes mystery set in 1980s Los Angeles. The show is based on Bret Easton Ellis’ eponymous semi-autobiographical novel and was previously in development at HBO before moving to FX. The synopsis follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession, and the risks beneath adolescence. In the trailer, a younger Bret reflects on his 1981 school days, introducing his circle and recounting a story involving sex, drugs, and murder. The footage includes the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, and threatens him after he refuses to befriend him. One sequence suggests a kidnapping and possible killing by a masked figure called the Trawler. The Shards will premiere August 5, 2026 on FX and Hulu, produced by 20th Television and executive produced by multiple names including Murphy and Ellis.