The Old Gossip of The Shards

The Shards is a new series streaming next week on FX/Hulu/Disney+ (depending on the territory) based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel of the same name and created and produced by Ryan Murphy. Both Ryan and Bret are messy, petty bitches so it’s a perfect creative partnership. If anyone can nail the tone that Bret would have wanted for his story, it’s Ryan.

This is about spoiled and rotten teens in 1980s spoiled and rotten Los Angeles. There is a serial killer on the loose, cult leaders in their midst, before helicopter parenting, and at a time when the cocaine was the purest. It’s a show about wealthy beautiful people guarding against sinister encroachment and the question is whether the villain is an outsider or whether it’s really themselves. But make it sleazy-fun with amazing costumes, the best version of 80s hair, and a stupidly attractive cast. Gen Z and Alpha will probably be all over this show – and I’m not mad about it. They already seem to be super into physical media and throwing it back to analog times, and if this series pops off, it will only amplify this predisposition.

The grownups in the show are played by Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley, and Jordan Roth, a total scene-stealer who eats up every scene. Jordan is likely about to be more popular than he already is, next level fame is coming.

But the core five of The Shards are also primed to be the new pop culture favourites. They are, in no particular order, Igby Rigney, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Kaia Gerber, and Homer Gere.

Gerber and Gere, you say? Yes, exactly. Cindy Crawford’s daughter with Rande Gerber and Richard Gere’s son with Carey Lowell. The same Cindy and Richard who used to be married – their children are now starring together in a series and, yes, there is definitely a romantic/horny spark between their characters.

When I said that Ryan Murphy is messy and petty, this is an example. Don’t tell me he didn’t know exactly what he was doing when these roles were cast. That doesn’t mean that the actors aren’t up to the task, and they give solid performances, but the gossip history is there too. Which Kaia has acknowledged.

@entertainmenttonight Kaia Gerber has a lot in common with her ‘The Shards’ co-star, Homer Gere 💙 #kaiagerber #cindycrawford #theshards #homergere #richardgere ♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight

Cindy was at the premiere last night to support her child. Didn’t see Richard but then again he doesn’t really do the red carpet circuit. Kaia and Homer look good together, non? They’re not together-together, at least not right now, and at last check she and Lewis Pullman were still a thing. But… like… imagine if…?

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This is a series that knows exactly what it is and who it’s for. It is exactly what you would expect if Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis had a baby – campy, unserious, but not so unserious that there aren’t certain takeaways about youth and vulnerability and the corrosive impact of fame, wealth, access, and also insecurity.

And the cast is leaning into their group allure, the way young talent from previous shows and movies have captured the public’s fascination with their dynamic. The Brat Pack from the 80s, and then 90210 after them, to the Twilight crew and Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars, and more recently, Descendants and Off Campus. The Shards is hoping to be the next.