Just when you think Ryan Murphy couldn’t shock us even more, he drops The Beauty.
From American Horror Story to Monster, Murphy has made us gasp with serial killers, lobster hands, and yes… sex with a minotaur (don’t ask). But his latest FX series, The Beauty, takes body horror to a whole new level; it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, and absolutely perfect for fans of The Substance.
To make sure you don’t miss a single, jaw-dropping second — except for the parts where you might need to cover your eyes — here’s the full episode release schedule for The Beauty and everything else you need to know about this thrilling new series.
Ryan Murphy has drunk the Kris Jenner Kool Aid
What is The Beauty about?
The new FX series stars Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall as FBI agents tasked with investigating a disturbing trail of dead supermodels. As they dig deeper, they uncover something far more sinister: “a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection — but with terrifying consequences,” according to FX’s official synopsis.
Complicating matters further is a so-called miracle drug on the market, ominously named The Beauty, developed by a reclusive tech billionaire known only as “The Corporation,” played by Ashton Kutcher. What begins as a glossy promise of perfection quickly spirals into something deeply unsettling, blurring the lines between desire, vanity and body horror.
And yes, the comparisons to The Substance are impossible to ignore. Creepy fun fact? That film starred Demi Moore, who just so happens to be Kutcher’s ex-wife. Make of that what you will.
Who is in The Beauty?
As mentioned, Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall lead the series as FBI agents determined to get to the bottom of the case.
The Beauty also boasts an eye-watering ensemble cast, with Anthony Ramos appearing as The Corporation’s Assassin. He’s joined by Jeremy Pope, Jessica Alexander, Bella Hadid, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ben Platt and Isabella Rossellini, making it one of FX’s most stacked line-ups to date.
And that’s not all, as viewers have also been promised a slate of high-profile guest stars, meaning there’s likely plenty more jaw-dropping casting reveals still to come.
When is The Beauty released?
The Beauty premieres on FX and Hulu on Wednesday, January 21. That said, the rest of the release schedule is a little more complicated, so we’re breaking it all down for you, step by step.
Here’s the full episode release schedule for The Beauty:
Episode 1: “Beautiful Pilot” — January 21
Episode 2: “Beautiful Jordan” — January 21
Episode 3: “Beautiful Christopher Cross" — January 21
Episode 4: “Beautiful Chimp Face” — January 28
Episode 5: “Beautiful Billionaires" — February 4
Episode 6: “Beautiful Patient Zero" — February 11
Episode 7: “Beautiful Living Rooms” — February 18
Episode 8: “TBA” — February 25
Episode 9: “TBA” — February 25
Episode 10: “TBA” — March 4
Episode 11: “TBA” — March 4 (Season 1 Finale)
Where can you watch The Beauty in the UK?
So yes, while Hulu isn’t available here, there’s no need to panic — The Beauty will still be easy to watch in the UK. All episodes will be streaming on Disney+, meaning you won’t miss a single unsettling, eye-covering moment of Ryan Murphy’s latest body-horror obsession.
What is The Beauty based on?
The story is adapted from Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley’s comic book series of the same name. The show is created and written by Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson. It's like true crime meets body horror.
The Hollywood Reporter describes the series as an “occasionally provocative blend of Nip/Tuck and various American Horror Story iterations,” promising a mix of dark satire, body horror, and the kind of shocking twists Ryan Murphy is known for.
