The Shards: Ryan Murphy series drags 1981 teens into cocaine chaos

On August 4, 2026, the series The Shards premiered in the United States, bringing to the screen the world of adolescents at a Los Angeles prep school in 1981, where parties, whiskey, cocaine and a mysterious killer intertwine.

Setting and Plot of the Series

Ryan Murphy's television adaptation stems from Bret Easton Ellis's autofiction work, originally released as a podcast between 2020 and 2021 and later turned into a novel in 2023. The storyline follows student Ellis, a veiled version of the author, in his senior year, as the arrival of the enigmatic transfer student Robert Mallory triggers the collapse of a controlled world. Meanwhile, a serial killer known as The Trawler draws ever closer to the increasingly paranoid circle of friends.

Cast and Main Characters

The cast blends established faces with Hollywood's new generation. Kaia Gerber plays Susan Reynolds, described as the "reluctantly perfect" one. Igby Rigney portrays Ellis, while Jordan Roth plays Steven Reinhardt, a personal assistant inspired by Andy Warhol. Homer Gere takes on Robert Mallory, Ellis's object of obsession, and Hayes Warner brings Debbie Schaffer to life, an insecure teen who also works as a musician. Campbell, who plays Thom Wright, describes the series as "deeply erotic and deeply beautiful".

Production Process and Murphy's Choices

Originally, the adaptation was to be directed by Luca Guadagnino, but Murphy's proposal, which joined the project in February 2025, ended up replacing the Italian's more restrained style with unabashed extravagance. Executive producer Brad Simpson stated that Murphy and Ellis “are obsessed with moments of youth of hidden identities.” Simpson added that the series offers an “obvious metaphor for AIDS in the 80s.”

Regarding casting choices, Simpson said he was looking for “aspiration”: “Would you like to go to a party, drink whiskey and use cocaine with them? Probably yes. But also, please don’t do that.”

Representation of Drugs and Sex

The erotic thriller prioritizes tension and suspense over explicit sex scenes. There are no “dick shots,” “blowjobs,” or “handjobs.” The presence of drugs, especially cocaine, is intense: during filming, actors experimented with various substances to replicate the drug’s effect, such as milk powder and coconut, with Warner noting that the powder “started to liquefy in my nose.” Campbell explained that the intimacy coordinator provided “a relentless amount of Listerine strips,” and that the actors had to watch their diet to avoid accidents.

Expectations for a Second Season

The young actors hope the series returns. Rigney asked, “Is the money coming?” and, while lacking a definitive answer, emphasized the importance of having a steady job as an actor. Simpson, in closing the interview, promised that if there is a second season, “there will be more sex.”

With information from The Guardian.