Ashton Kutcher plays a shadowy tech billionaire who unleashes a miracle drug called The Beauty on supermodels in the fashion world — but the new offering comes with “terrifying consequences.”
“I’m the world’s greatest goddamn advertisement for the hottest new super drug that makes you effortlessly beautiful,” boasts a buff Kutcher, lounging on a yacht, in the trailer (below) unveiled Monday for the Ryan Murphy and FX thriller debuting on Jan. 21.
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There are side effects from The Beauty shot, however, judging by Bella Hadid, who plays a botched supermodel, going on a vicious rampage after seeing her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The drug has other supermodels dying in gruesome ways, owing to an apparent sexually transmitted disease.
That leads FBI Agents Cooper Madsen, played by Murphy favorite Evan Peters, and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) to Paris to uncover the truth behind The Corporation, led by Kutcher. “It’s an STD that people will actually want,” a tuxedoed Kutcher says in defense of his product empire.
He also sends out a lethal enforcer called The Assassin, played by Anthony Ramos, to silence critics. “This is the closest to the fountain of youth anyone is ever going to get, which of course, comes with problems,” Ramos’ psychotic character says in the trailer.
Kutcher’s challenge while being pursued by FBI agents is finding an antidote to his fast-mutating product before it goes to market. “Fix the bug,” he exclaims before slapping a medical lab researcher across the face.
The Beauty, produced by 20th Television, also stars Jeremy Pope and has starry guest star turns from Amelia Gray Hamlin, Ari Graynor, Ben Platt, Billy Eichner, Isabella Rossellini, Jaquel Spivey, Jessica Alexander, Jon Jon Briones, John Carroll Lynch, Julie Halston, Lux Pascal, Meghan Trainor, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Peter Gallagher and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Created and written by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, FX’s The Beauty is executive produced by Murphy, Hodgson, Peters, Ramos, Pope, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Michael Uppendahl, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Gitter, Peter Schwerin and Jeremy Haun.
The thriller is based on the comic book series written by Haun and Jason A. Hurley, the latter who serves as a consultant. The FX series premieres Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. ET on Hulu and 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX with the first three episodes followed by a weekly release of the 11-episode season, with two episodes releasing in each of the final two weeks.
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