Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty trailer teases a designer drug with horrifying consequences

Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series The Beauty has unveiled its first official trailer, offering a chilling look at a world where physical perfection comes at a devastating cost.

The FX Networks production, based on the Image Comics graphic novel, is set to premiere with three episodes on January 21 on FX and Hulu, with Disney+ also announcing the launch details.

The trailer introduces a dark thriller set within the high-fashion world, where international supermodels begin dying under gruesome and mysterious circumstances. As the deaths mount, FBI Agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett, played by Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall, are dispatched to Paris to investigate what initially appears to be a sinister conspiracy tied to the modeling industry.

Their investigation uncovers a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into strikingly beautiful versions of themselves. While the drug-like infection promises perfection, it carries terrifying consequences, ultimately leading to death. As the virus spreads globally, the agents race across cities including Paris, Venice, Rome, and New York in an attempt to contain a threat that could permanently alter humanity.

Bella Hadid, Ashton Kutcher, and Rebecca Hall feature prominently in the trailer, alongside Peters, while Jeremy Pope plays Jeremy, a desperate outsider drawn into the chaos as the epidemic escalates. The narrative explores themes of obsession, vanity, and the extreme sacrifices people are willing to make in pursuit of beauty.

The Beauty is adapted from the Image Comics series created by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, which examines beauty culture through the lens of crime, horror, and social commentary. Guest stars include Ben Platt, Billy Eichner, Isabella Rossellini, Meghan Trainor, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Peter Gallagher.

Murphy has previously stated that The Beauty connects thematically to his earlier work, including Nip/Tuck and American Horror Story, continuing his long-standing exploration of beauty culture and body horror.