Los Angeles in 1981 is all sun, status, secrets, and danger in “The Shards,” Ryan Murphy’s new FX series based on Bret Easton Ellis’ psychological horror novel. The dark coming-of-age drama stars Igby Rigney (“The Fall of the House of Usher”) and Homer Gere (“Euphoria”) and premieres Aug. 5 on FX and Hulu, with new episodes expected weekly.
“The Shards” began as a serialized audiobook before being published as a novel in 2023. The story is semi-autobiographical for Ellis, the author of “Less Than Zero” and “American Psycho,” and was previously in development at HBO before Murphy brought the project to FX.
Here’s everything we know about “The Shards,” including who cast it and similar casting opportunities.
JUMP TO
Per the official logline, “ ‘The Shards’ is set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, where a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession, and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.”
The cast includes:
- Igby Rigney as Bret Easton Ellis
- Homer Gere as Robert Mallory
- Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds
- Hayes Warner as Debbie Schaffer
- Graham Campbell as Thom Wright
- Wes Bentley as Terry Schaffer
- Evan Rachel Wood as Liz Schaffer
- Jordan Roth as Steven Reinhardt
Tiffany Little Canfield, of the Telsey Office, is the casting director for “The Shards.” Canfield has become one of Murphy’s go-to casting directors, shaping the ensembles for some of his biggest projects, including “The Beauty,” “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” “Doctor Odyssey,” and “Grotesquerie.” Here’s what she looks for in the audition room.
Looking for more advice from casting directors? These guides provide great tips:
While it’s too early to know if “The Shards” will get renewed for future seasons, there are plenty of other projects casting now. You can find current opportunities in our casting guides:
For even more leads, bookmark these directories:
And to sharpen your audition skills, check out these guides:
