Ryan Murphy is back on FX tonight with his new series The Shards. The show premieres August 5 at 9 p.m. ET, with two episodes airing back-to-back. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the story is a work of autofiction that blends the author's real upbringing at the Buckley School with a dark, fictional plot about a serial killer known as The Trawler.
The series features Igby Rigney as a fictionalized version of Bret Easton Ellis. The plot centers on a teenager in 1981 Los Angeles who is caught up in the local social scene while a new student arrives at his elite school. Beyond Rigney, the cast includes Wes Bentley, Kaia Gerber, and Homer Gere. Additional recurring roles are played by Evan Rachel Wood, Jordan Roth, Owen Painter, and Daniel Dale.
Viewers interested in watching the series without a cable subscription have options. Live TV streaming services provide access to the broadcast on FX. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial for new users that covers the network. Alternatively, the show is available to stream on Hulu for subscribers.
New episodes are scheduled for weekly release on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET. The initial two-episode premiere sets the stage for a total of eight episodes, with the season conclusion airing on September 2. This project marks another collaboration for Murphy, following his established history of high-profile television productions.