The Shards Producers Address Finale Alterations and Hints at Season 2
The Shards executive producers are speaking out about the finale’s unexpected deviation from Bret Easton Ellis‘s novel.
In the episode that aired on Wednesday, September 9, the FX series revealed that Bret (Igby Rigney), Susan (Kaia Gerber), Robert (Homer Gere), Debbie (Hayes Warner), Thom (Graham Campbell), Liz (Evan Rachel Wood), Ryan (Daniel Dale), and Steven (Jordan Roth) all come under suspicion as The Trawler.
“And that’s when things really got wild,” Bret stated in a voiceover just as the credits began to roll.
Fans familiar with Ellis’ novel understand that the book offers a full conclusion that was omitted from Wednesday’s episode, but there’s a specific reason for that omission.
“People often think Ryan Murphy is known for limited series because that’s a frequent route for him. It’s something we often do,” executive producer Brad Simpson revealed exclusively to Us during a joint interview with Nina Jacobson. He clarified that The Shards is intended to span multiple seasons, countering the belief that the ending of the book would be rushed. “But it feels like book fans may be thinking, ‘Oh no, they’re going to hurry through the ending of the book.’ Which is definitely not the case.”
They envision The Shards running “for at least two seasons.”
“The story isn’t complete yet, so that’s the hope. It could extend further if we choose to, but we haven’t reached the conclusion of the book, so we’ll see,” he elaborated. “Another aspect of the adaptation is that it maintains Brett’s perspective throughout. It’s a first-person narrative that recounts everything from his viewpoint. A fun element of the show is that we get to explore other characters’ viewpoints.”
Simpson emphasized that there’s still a lot to unfold in the story, particularly after Terry’s (Wes Bentley) mysterious murder. “Terry falls from the second-floor balcony during a major Halloween party, and this is a mystery in the book regarding the perpetrator. It serves as a cliffhanger at the end of our season,” he explained. “However, in the book, it drives the narrative into the latter half of the story. In our show, it marks the finale of the season.”
The Shards is an adaptation of Ellis’ fictionalized memoir about his high school experiences. Released in 2023, the book was Ellis’ first publication in 13 years and includes a disclaimer stating that all major characters in The Shards are fictional, save for the narrator.
“Bret’s book has a very condensed timeline. The events primarily occur from the beginning of the school year until early fall. We wanted to stretch it across at least two seasons, which required us to compress the timeline even more while also broadening the universe,” Simpson explained. “We needed to develop beyond what was provided, and collaborating with Ryan Murphy was a joy, as he’s known for his creativity and storytelling.”
He continued: “Maintaining fidelity to the book was essential, so we didn’t rush to the conclusion but incorporated new elements. Ryan introduced characters who weren’t in the novel and had existing characters explore uncharted territories, which added a lot of excitement. It was refreshing to have the opportunity to elaborate rather than condense the narrative, which is often the case with adaptations.”
While the show has left Us with numerous unanswered questions, Simpson hinted that Murphy “definitely has the answers.”
“He has a theory about who he believes is the killer. By the end of Bret’s book, no clear answer is provided regarding the murderer. It retains its mystery, with various suspects highlighted,” Simpson noted. “The essence of the book and what we’re doing in the show resonates with the spirit of Twin Peaks. You begin with a question about who killed Laura Palmer, but the real focus of the show is the journey of each character through this increasingly bizarre setting. While we have a sense of who the murderer is and how events may unfold, nothing is final. The point is to remain true to the essence of Bret’s book, where even when you think you’ve pinpointed the killer, uncertainty lingers.”
Jacobson added that Bret will start facing scrutiny.
“This marks the first instance this season where you really begin to question whether Bret can be relied upon as a narrator. We aimed to subtly nod to this aspect of the book by the end of the first season,” she teased to Us. “Your perception of Bret will continue to evolve as the series progresses.”
Jacobson confirmed that season 2 will balance fidelity to certain aspects of the book while weaving in new content, stating, “The core of the season will likely follow a similar format, combining familiar elements from the book with new inventions and dynamics that will create more conflict among characters and offer additional perspectives. It will embody that hybrid approach.”
According to Simpson, the writers are attuned to public reception of the series.
“We’ve been monitoring what resonates with viewers. You’ll definitely see more from our main cast. I think you’ll also observe additional supporting characters stepping into the spotlight,” he teased. “As we discuss the next season, nothing is finalized. There’s nothing I can really disclose at the moment, except that Ryan always incorporates unexpected twists, and I’m sure we’ll have special guest stars. One of the joys of producing a show like this is the intent to return to our core cast from the outset if we proceed with another season.”
However, the possibilities extend beyond season 2. Simpson and Jacobson hinted that there may be additional episodes afterward — and potentially even a spinoff.
“We find ourselves in a season-by-season landscape within this streaming economy,” Simpson teased. “So we’ll see what unfolds.”
The Shards is currently available to stream on Hulu.
