Ryan Murphy’s latest star-studded project, The Beauty, has officially received a series order from FX, with Jeremy Pope, Anthony Ramos, Evan Peters, and Ashton Kutcher set to headline the drama. Co-created by Murphy and longtime collaborator Matt Hodgson, the series is based on the graphic novels by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, blending sharp social commentary with Murphy’s signature dark, compelling storytelling.
The Beauty imagines a world where a sexually transmitted disease, known as “The Beauty,” grants physical perfection but comes with a fatal price. The original comic asks, “What if there was a way to guarantee you could become more and more beautiful every day? What if it was a sexually transmitted disease?” In this dystopian setting, society’s obsession with outward appearance reaches dangerous extremes, and the plot follows detectives who uncover a sinister conspiracy behind the epidemic.
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Though specific character details remain under wraps—standard for a Murphy project—it’s rumored that Peters could play one of the lead detectives, with Kutcher possibly portraying a tech billionaire involved in the plot. The series is expected to center on two detectives investigating the spread of this deadly disease, with a key female role still to be cast.
The 11-episode first season is slated to begin production this fall, continuing the prolific partnership between Murphy and FX. Notably, Pope, Ramos, and Peters will also serve as executive producers alongside Murphy and Hodgson. The production team includes Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, and Eric Gitter, with 20th Television producing in association with Ryan Murphy Television.
This marks yet another major collaboration under Murphy’s Disney deal and builds on his history with Peters, who has been a frequent collaborator since American Horror Story. Peters’ most recent work with Murphy, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, earned him a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination. Ramos, known for his roles in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Hamilton, will next appear in Marvel’s Ironheart. Pope, a standout from Murphy’s Hollywood and Pose, continues his rise with both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations under his belt. Kutcher, widely recognized for That ’70s Show and Two and a Half Men, recently starred in Netflix’s Your Place or Mine and Vengeance.
Murphy’s The Beauty joins a growing slate of high-profile projects from the Emmy-winning creator, including Grotesquerie and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, further solidifying his status as one of television’s most influential and prolific figures. With such a powerhouse cast and a provocative premise, The Beauty is poised to be another must-watch addition to FX’s lineup.