New 9-Part Thriller Series Based On Bestselling Novel Gets Official Rotten Tomatoes Score

Published Aug 5, 2026, 4:23 PM EDT Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019 and is now one of the leading contributors of the TV News team. Having written over 4000 news stories in that time , with his work cited in Buzzfeed and TV Insider, he's always bemoaning that there's too many shows and not enough time. You can contact him at: aalghamdi@hey.com. A new nine-part thriller adaptation has officially received its Rotten Tomatoes verdict. Page-to-screen adaptations are some of the most sought-after types of projects in television, whether on broadcast, cable, or streaming. Any book that receives a bit of hype, particularly if it fits into a reliable genre like horror, thriller, or murder mystery, will likely at least get eyed by prospective buyers. Many even get formal announcements, though they often don't make it to the finish line or even get far in the developmental process. There's always a newer book to chase. So it takes a producer with a known track record to help push an adaptation along and get it to audiences. That's where Ryan Murphy comes in with The Shards, an FX and Hulu adaptation that blends serial killer suspense with young angst, and has just revealed its Rotten Tomatoes score. The Shards has debuted to a 54% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The score is based on 24 reviews, with 13 leaning positive and 11 leaning negative. The slider for the Average of Rated Reviews, which accounts for critic reviews with letter or numerical ratings, sits at 6.30 out of 10. But it's worth noting that the numbers are changing rapidly, as more assessments are added and tabulated. Consisting of nine episodes, with Murphy as creator and executive producer, The Shards is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis. It unfolds in the early 1980s, particularly focusing on Bret (played by The Midnight Club star Igby Rigney), an aspiring teenage writer. ​​​Bret's world begins to unravel after the arrival of a mysterious new student named Robert, played by Homer Gere, who shows up just before senior year. His arrival also coincides with the growing terror of a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city. Graham Campbell, Hayes Warner, Kaia Gerber, and Yellowstone's Wes Bentley also star in main roles, with Evan Rachel Wood, Owen Painter, Jordan Roth, and Daniel Dale among those recurring. ScreenRant's review of The Shards by Graeme Guttmann argues that the FX series loses the novel's “bite.” Guttmann goes on to note that, although the adaptation does display “flashes of brilliance,” it is ultimately bogged down by its decision to veer away from the source material's stronger elements in favor of more familiar teen drama. Sentiments are split on how well The Shards works as a whole. Collider's review by Gabrielle Moss praises the cast's performances, arguing that the leads succeed in bringing weight to their characters. Variety's Allison Herman, meanwhile, argues that Ellis' novel “is a feeling, and the Murphy version can’t capture it.” But on the whole, after his work on so many similar dramas, and considering that The Shards brings to mind a darker version of Gossip Girl, it may be worth a sample. It'll be fun, at least, to see Gerber and Gere share the screen, considering how their respective famous parents, Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere, dated in the 1990s. The Shards will premiere on Wednesday, August 5, on FX and Hulu at 9 PM ET, in addition to streaming on Disney+ internationally. Release Date August 5, 2026 Network FX, Hulu Directors Max Minghella, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Michael Uppendahl, Ryan Murphy Cast Kaia Gerber Susan Reynolds Igby Rigney Bret Easton Ellis Homer Gere Robert Mallory Writers Juli Weiner, Charles Rogers, Bret Easton Ellis, Ryan Murphy, Lenore Zion Creator(s) Ryan Murphy, Bret Easton Ellis