Ryan Murphy's "The Beauty" TV Show: Release Date, Cast, and Wild Plot Details

Get ready for a wild ride! Ryan Murphy is back with another mind-bending series, "The Beauty," hitting FX and Hulu in January 2026. This comic book adaptation promises a unique blend of sci-fi, horror, and social commentary, with a star-studded cast.

TL;DR: The Quick Hits on "The Beauty"

"The Beauty" is a new Ryan Murphy sci-fi horror series coming to FX and Hulu in January 2026.
It's based on the Image Comics series about a sexually transmitted virus that grants perfect beauty but leads to explosive, gruesome deaths.
The show stars a fantastic ensemble including Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Ramos, and Jeremy Pope.

Unpacking the Wild Premise Behind Ryan Murphy's Latest Project

If you're a fan of Ryan Murphy's signature style — think the dark twists of "American Horror Story" or the societal critiques in "Nip/Tuck" — then "The Beauty" is definitely going to be on your radar. This isn't just another medical drama; it’s a high-concept sci-fi thriller that looks set to redefine what we expect from TV.

"The Beauty" is an adaptation of the acclaimed comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. It plunges us into a world where everyone is obsessed with looking their best, and there's a revolutionary way to achieve it: a serum that guarantees youth and vigor. Sounds great, right? Well, there's always a catch when it comes to Ryan Murphy. This "beauty" formula comes with a terrifying downside: it shortens your lifespan and guarantees a violently explosive end after about 855 days. Yep, you read that right — people literally explode!

Murphy himself described the show as "a sci-fi medical show about a new virus that mutates and it’s sexually transmitted, that turns you into your absolute perfect self. And the question is, how far would you go to be beautiful? What would you sacrifice to that, and does that matter?” He even compared it to his take on "Ozempic culture," hinting at deep dives into society's obsession with outward perfection.

Who's Who in the Star-Studded Cast of "The Beauty"?

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Murphy is known for bringing together incredible talent, and "The Beauty" is no exception. He's reuniting with "American Horror Story" favorite Evan Peters, who's been critically acclaimed for his work in darker roles like Jeffrey Dahmer in "Monster." Peters is expected to play Drew Foster, one of the government agents tasked with investigating these bizarre deaths.

Joining Peters is Rebecca Hall, presumed to be playing Kara Vaughn, Foster's partner in crime-solving. Their dynamic is likely to be a central part of the series, possibly blending elements of a "buddy-comedy" amidst the horror, as Murphy hinted. And for something truly different, Ashton Kutcher steps into a more villainous role as a biotech billionaire, the mastermind behind this age-defying concoction. It's a fresh take to see Kutcher as the antagonist, and we're totally here for it!

The cast also includes other exciting names:

Anthony Ramos
Jeremy Pope
Bella Hadid (reportedly playing one of the unfortunate supermodels)
Isabella Rossellini
Patrick Luwis
Chanel Stewart

With Peters' background in body horror and the diverse talents of this ensemble, "The Beauty" promises some unforgettable performances.

Ryan Murphy's Ambitious Vision: Merging Genres on an Epic Scale

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If you thought Murphy's previous projects were grand, get ready for "The Beauty." He's calling this his biggest undertaking yet, with an international scope that he's even compared to "Game of Thrones." Filming locations include stunning cities like Venice, Rome, and Paris, suggesting a truly cinematic experience. Murphy is co-creating the series with Matthew Hodgson, ensuring a fresh yet familiar creative voice.

Ryan Murphy on "The Beauty":

“The series incorporates a combination of really heightened genres. It has amazing action sequences. It has a lot of body horror. It has a great love story. It has a great buddy-comedy thing going on, and it has a great villain.”

— Ryan Murphy, speaking at New York Comic-Con (via EW)

This blend of "amazing action sequences," "a lot of body horror," "a great love story," and "a great buddy-comedy" is precisely what makes Murphy's work stand out. How often do you see a buddy-comedy that also features exploding people and a deep dive into societal anxieties about beauty? It sounds like a unique, genre-mashing experience that only Ryan Murphy could pull off.

Murphy has explicitly linked "The Beauty" to recurring themes in his work, stating, "I've always written about beauty culture in my work from my very first big thing, which was 'Nip/Tuck.' I've also done a lot of body horror in my work, mostly through 'American Horror Story.' I just think that it asks that deep, essential question that I always like to ask about anything: What would you do for love? What would you do for beauty? What would you do for money? It has all of those things that I've grappled with in my entire career, all in one package." This makes it clear that "The Beauty" won't just be a thrilling ride, but also a thought-provoking commentary on our modern world.

First Looks and Fan Frenzy from New York Comic-Con 2025

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The anticipation for "The Beauty" is already building, especially after a sneak peek at New York Comic-Con (NYCC) 2025. Fans and critics alike got their first glimpse of footage, confirming the show's dark and intense tone. The panel, featuring stars Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall, and Ashton Kutcher, also unveiled key art and the official logo for the series.

One of the most talked-about moments from NYCC was a clip featuring Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall investigating the death of a model in Venice. The scene reportedly showed the duo on a canal boat, encountering a mysterious figure in a plague doctor's outfit. Later, donned in hazmat suits, they examine a gruesomely peeled victim, discovering an Egyptian hieroglyph meaning "beauty" daubed on the wall. Anthony Ramos was also implicated as a potential murderer in this initial footage, setting up an intriguing mystery. Comic creators Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley themselves shared their excitement about the preview event on social media, giving it their stamp of approval.

When Can You Catch "The Beauty" and Where Will It Be Streaming?

Mark your calendars! "The Beauty" is set to premiere in January 2026. While an exact date isn't locked in, Ryan Murphy hinted that audiences can expect the "head-exploding fun" during the "third week of January" 2026. The series will consist of 11 episodes and will be available to stream on FX and Hulu, making it easily accessible for anyone with subscriptions to those platforms.

This is one show you won't want to miss if you're into thrilling sci-fi, intense body horror, and Ryan Murphy's unique storytelling prowess. Get ready to question the price of perfection!

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About "The Beauty" Answered

When does "The Beauty" officially premiere?

"The Beauty" is slated to debut in January 2026. Ryan Murphy specifically mentioned the "third week of January" 2026 as a target.

Where can I watch "The Beauty" when it comes out?

The series will be available on FX and will also stream on Hulu, so make sure your subscriptions are ready!

What is "The Beauty" about, exactly?

It's a sci-fi medical thriller where a sexually transmitted virus makes people perfectly beautiful but leads to violent, explosive deaths after about 855 days. Detectives investigate this deadly phenomenon amidst a government conspiracy.