Viewers who like camp and excess should buckle up. A new Ryan Murphy series has arrived to take the world by storm. Inspired by the Bret Easton Ellis novel, The Shards has all the ingredients of a smashing hit. The list includes an appealing cast and an intoxicating premise.
Available on Disney+ in the UK, the series premiered to mixed reviews. Don’t let that stop you. If you want to travel to the ‘80s in style, it might become your next obsession. But does it have what it takes to score a follow-up? Here’s what we know so far.
The Shards Season 2 Release Date
At the time of writing, there’s no official news available about The Shards season 2.
That said, the show is ongoing, so a renewal could be announced soon. Murphy revealed that he has multiple installments in mind, and critics who watched all episodes mentioned that the first season ends on a cliffhanger.
“The book is very dense. People will love these characters. So we had always talked, even in the beginning, briefly, that, in success, this is a three- or four-year series where it takes place over the course of one school year. And I loved that,” Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter.
Bret Easton Ellis co-created the show and co-wrote the first two episodes. While his book doesn’t have a sequel, it is indeed dense. Multiple seasons aren’t out of the question. If all goes well, new episodes could drop in late 2027.
The Shards Cast
- Igby Rigney as Bret Easton Ellis
- Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds
- Homer Gere as Robert Mallory
- Hayes Warner as Debbie Schaffer
- Graham Campbell as Thom Wright
- Evan Rachel Wood as Liz Schaffer
- Wes Bentley as Terry Schaffer
What Is The Shards About?
The Shards is part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age drama. Set in Los Angeles in 1981, it follows 17-year-old Bret, an aspiring writer attending Buckley, an exclusive prep school. Beneath the glossy surface of his privileged life lurks something much darker.
Things take a turn when the charismatic Robert arrives at Buckley at the same time as the city is being terrorised by a serial killer known as the Trawler. Before long, Bret becomes convinced that Robert is the Trawler and sets out to prove he’s right.
This is the kind of glossy show where teenagers enjoy little adult supervision. Bret belongs to a tight-knit group of students who have grown up surrounded by Hollywood power and money. They spend their nights driving around and attending lavish parties. Expect drugs, complicated relationships, and outlandish developments. As a bonus, everything is wrapped up in the nostalgic allure of the ‘80s.
While The Shards season 2 isn’t a sure thing, season 1 is still ongoing. You can catch episodes weekly on Disney+ until September 9.
Are There Other Shows Like The Shards?
If you like The Shards, you might like some of Ryan Murphy’s other work. Try Scream Queens, American Horror Story, Glee, Monster, or All’s Fair. Love the teen drama aspect? Check out Riverdale, Euphoria, One of Us Is Lying, or Elite.
Alternatively, catch up with everything else trending on Disney+. Like Furious, The Bear, Rivals, and Criminal Minds: Evolution.