The Shards Crew Explains Its Metaphorical Serial Killer Approach
The FX series The Shards, a Ryan Murphy-produced teen thriller based on Bret Easton Ellis's 2023 novel, is steering its serial killer plot away from real-world parallels.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Brad Simpson explained the deliberate choice to fictionalize the show's murderer, known as the Trawler. He said using a real killer would have gotten "too messy," acknowledging the real victims at the center of such cases and the ethical questions around using their stories for entertainment.
The series, set in 1981 Los Angeles, follows a teen version of Ellis (played by Igby Rigney) who becomes paranoid about a charming newcomer, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere), as a serial killer stalks the city. The story uses the Trawler as a metaphor to explore themes like repressed sexuality and the era's dark side.
Simpson noted that both Ellis and Murphy share an obsession with pop culture, secrets, and hidden histories. Actress Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Liz Schaffer, praised their ability to explore dark themes with vulnerable characters, blending glitz with a sinister underbelly.
