Disney+ will soon add a new drama series from Ryan Murphy to its offering. The series is called The Shards (2026) and is based on the critically acclaimed bestseller by Bret Easton Ellis. Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged graduating seniors at an elite high school as they navigate identity, sexuality, jealousy, obsession, and the dangers that lurk beneath the surface of American adolescence.
A restless last school year
Central to the story is Bret, played by Igby Rigney (The Midnight Club (2022)). An ambitious writer and keen observer, he tries to get through his last year at an exclusive high school. However, his world is turned upside down when mysterious newcomer Robert Mallory, played by Homer Gere (Richard Gere’s son), joins the school just before the start of the school year. At the same time, unrest grows in Los Angeles due to the presence of a serial killer known as The Trawler. The fear this creates casts a shadow over the lives of Bret and his friends.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged graduating seniors at an elite high school as they navigate identity, sexuality, jealousy, obsession, and the dangers that lurk beneath the surface of American adolescence.
Wealth, secrets and obsessions
Bret is part of an influential group of friends who move effortlessly in a world of luxury and privilege. His friends include Susan Reynolds, played by Kaia Gerber (Mother Mary (2026)), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell). As the young people struggle with identity, sexuality, jealousy and obsession, the dark sides of their apparently perfect lives increasingly come to light.
This summer on Disney+
The Shards is from 6 augustus streaming exclusively on Disney+.
Beeld: Still ‘The Shards’ via Disney+
