FX’s New Horror Series Based On American Psycho Author Bret Easton Ellis’ Bestseller Gets Release Window

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FX has announced an update on its upcoming series, The Shards, which is based on the 2023 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the author of American Psycho. They’ve also given a timeframe for when the show will be released.

Producer Brad Simpson recently told Variety that the FX series The Shards will debut sometime later this summer. He explained that while HBO initially had the rights to adapt the book, they eventually became available, and FX quickly acquired them. Ryan Murphy, who’s overseeing the show, brought the project to FX because he knew how much the team loved the source material.

You know, I was just reading what director Craig Simpson had to say about the cast he’s assembled for the film. He described them as seriously young – and he really believes audiences are going to be blown away by their performances. It’s a mix of fresh faces like Kaia Gerber, Igby Rigney, Homer Gere, Graham Campbell, and Hayes Warner, alongside someone more established like Wes Bentley. He’s clearly excited about what they’re bringing to the table, and honestly, that makes me excited too!

The producer explained that the new series, The Shards, will have a similar feel to American Gigolo because it’s set in the 1980s. Like American Gigolo, which featured music by Giorgio Moroder, the show will heavily emphasize the atmosphere of the era through its music and fashion. The producer said the project will be “defined by a mood, by the music of the time, by the clothes of the time.”

As a huge movie buff, I’m really excited about this new project! It’s based on a novel by Bret Easton Ellis – we’re big fans of his work, especially ‘Less Than Zero’ and ‘American Psycho’. This book, called ‘The Shards’, is set in 1981 and feels similar to ‘Less Than Zero’, but with a much darker, thriller edge – think serial killers mixed with that coming-of-age story. It’s all about capturing a specific mood, the music and fashion of the early ’80s, and those teenagers who are trying so hard to act grown-up. HBO originally had the rights, but Ellis had already turned it into a fantastic podcast, which we were super envious of. When it became available, we jumped at the chance! Ryan brought us on board knowing how much we loved the source material. The cast is incredible, and I honestly think it’s going to be a real surprise when it comes out later this summer. It really nails that whole Giorgio Moroder, ‘American Gigolo’ aesthetic and vibe for a teen audience – it delivers everything you’d want from that era.

Bret Easton Ellis is most famous for his 1991 novel, American Psycho, which was adapted into a movie starring Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas, Bill Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon, and Jared Leto, among others, less than ten years later.

Following the success of his previous four books, Ellis released The Shards, a novel inspired by his own experiences as a high school senior. He used an unusual approach to publishing: he shared it as an audiobook on Patreon over a year before the physical book came out in 2023. Ellis is also a producer on the upcoming FX television adaptation, working alongside Murphy, Max Winkler, Nick Hall, Kathleen McCaffrey, and Brian Young.

Ryan Murphy has a long and successful history with FX, where he’s created and produced numerous hit series. These include Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud, Pose, American Sports Story, Grotesquerie, The Beauty, and his most recent project, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, which he co-produced with Nina Simpson.

I just finished watching the finale of Love Story, and it was a moving, if heartbreaking, depiction of JFK Jr. and Bessette’s very public romance. The series really took off on social media, and it was fascinating to see a new generation discovering these figures and getting completely caught up in the 90s aesthetic. It’s a bittersweet watch, knowing how their story ultimately unfolded, but the show did a great job capturing the initial excitement and glamour.

Murphy, Simpson, and the author of American Psycho are now working on The Shards, which started filming last autumn. While there’s no official release date yet, one of the producers mentioned that the show is expected to debut this summer.

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2026-03-28 00:28