The Shards breakout star Igby Rigney is enjoying a major moment after leading Ryan Murphy’s latest dark and stylish television drama.
The 23-year-old actor plays Bret, a fictionalised teenage version of author Bret Easton Ellis, in the FX adaptation of Ellis’ 2023 novel. Set in 1981 Los Angeles, the series follows a group of wealthy high school students whose lives begin to unravel amid obsession, sexuality and the threat of a serial killer.
Rigney has quickly become one of the show’s most talked-about stars, helped in part by some revealing scenes in the premiere. Now, he has continued the momentum with a new Interview Magazine photoshoot featuring the actor posing shirtless by the beach.
A Breakout Role For Igby Rigney
Rigney was already familiar to horror fans before The Shards, having appeared in several Mike Flanagan projects including Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
But The Shards gives him his biggest leading role yet. His character is a closeted teenager navigating desire and paranoia while becoming increasingly suspicious of mysterious new student Robert Mallory, played by Homer Gere.
The series also stars Kaia Gerber, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley and Jordan Roth.
Still On The Dating Apps
In his new Interview Magazine feature, Rigney revealed that despite his rising profile, he is still using dating apps.
Asked what would define his summer, the actor gave a suitably chaotic answer: “Sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll baby!”
The photoshoot itself sees Rigney embracing a relaxed beach aesthetic, offering another glimpse of the actor away from the polished and increasingly sinister world of The Shards.
The Shards Could Have A Longer Future
The series has generated significant attention since its August premiere, with audiences responding to its mix of queer coming-of-age drama, horror and glossy 1980s excess.
Murphy and Ellis have discussed adapting the story across multiple seasons, although no additional seasons have yet been officially commissioned.
For now, the first season consists of nine episodes, with new episodes continuing through September.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, The Shards is available to stream on Disney+.
