Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere turned the world premiere of FX’s The Shards into an unexpected reminder of 1990s Hollywood.
The costars posed together at New York City’s SVA Theatre on July 27, drawing comparisons with Gerber’s mother, Cindy Crawford, and Homer’s father, Richard Gere.
Crawford and Richard were married from 1991 to 1995, decades before their children began working together. Despite that family history, Gerber said she and Homer had never met before preparing to film the new thriller.
Gerber plays Susan Reynolds, while Homer portrays mysterious new student Robert Mallory in the adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 2023 novel.
The Premiere Created an Unexpected ’90s Flashback
Gerber attended the premiere in a floor-length Valentino gown covered in gold-and-silver sequins, silver beading and a geometric diamond pattern. Her voluminous, side-parted hairstyle added to the comparisons with Crawford’s 1990s red-carpet style.
Homer wore a black suit, white shirt and black tie. His dark, middle-parted curls prompted similar comparisons with Richard during the earlier years of his acting career.
Gerber is Crawford’s daughter with Rande Gerber, while Homer is Richard’s son with his former wife Carey Lowell. The costars are not related. Crawford attended the premiere to support her daughter and was later photographed arriving at the after-party at El Quijote in Chelsea. Richard was not seen at either event.
Gerber Met Homer One Week Before Filming Began
Gerber told Entertainment Weekly that the actors did not know each other before joining the series. “I’d actually never met Homer until we started filming the show,” she said. “I met him about a week before we started.”
Gerber described their casting as a small-world coincidence and said the two quickly developed a close working relationship despite growing up on opposite coasts.
She called Homer a lovely person and said she “couldn’t have picked a better scene partner.” When asked about Crawford’s reaction to the casting connection, Gerber said she had simply been excited to meet him.
They Play Members of a Troubled Los Angeles Social Circle
The Shards is set in Los Angeles in 1981 and follows Bret, an aspiring writer played by Igby Rigney, as he begins his senior year at an elite prep school. According to Disney’s official synopsis, Bret’s reality begins to unravel after the arrival of Robert, a mysterious and magnetic transfer student.
Robert enters the school as a serial killer known as the Trawler is targeting teenagers across the city. Gerber’s Susan, Hayes Warner’s Debbie Schaffer and Graham Campbell’s Thom Wright complete Bret’s affluent and closely connected group of friends.
While Bret becomes increasingly suspicious of Robert, those around him are less willing to accept his fears. The series combines a coming-of-age story with sex, jealousy, obsession and the threat of violence beneath the group’s privileged social world.
‘The Shards’ Arrives on August 5
Ryan Murphy developed The Shards with Ellis, while Max Winkler directed episodes and serves among the executive producers. The cast also includes Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood and Jordan Roth.
The series gives Homer his first major leading role following his appearance as Dylan Reid in Euphoria. Gerber’s recent acting work includes Palm Royale and Mother Mary.
The Shards premieres August 5 on FX and Hulu in the United States. It becomes available on Disney+ in the United Kingdom and other international territories on August 6.
