Ashton Kutcher says his new TV series The Beauty explores the same ideas as the movie The Substance, which starred his ex-wife Demi Moore. He sees both projects as a commentary on a society increasingly focused on cosmetic fixes. Kutcher’s show premiered on January 21, 2026.
In a recent interview, Kutcher openly talked about the comparisons people are making between the two projects. He praised Moore’s award-winning performance in The Substance while explaining that his new FX series looks at the same cultural issue from a different angle.
โThe bigger context though, is cosmetic enhancement is becoming increasingly predominant and accepted,โ Kutcher said. He added that the desire to change one’s looks is universal and often comes with unexpected results.
The Core Idea Connecting Two Different Stories
At first glance, The Beauty and The Substance seem to tell different stories. The Substance is a film about a fading celebrity named Elisabeth Sparkle. After being fired from her job, she uses a black-market drug to create a younger, better version of herself named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. The film shows the horrific physical and psychological price she pays for this transformation.
The Beauty, created by Ryan Murphy, is a sci-fi horror series. It follows an epidemic caused by a sexually transmitted treatment called “the Beauty.” This drug makes people more physically attractive but hides deadly side effects. The story focuses on FBI agents and others trying to stop the outbreak and uncover the conspiracy behind it.
Despite different plots, Kutcher points out that both stories are really about the same thing: society’s growing obsession with quick fixes for appearance and the dangerous consequences that can follow. He connects this to his own experience as a model, where he saw how common personal insecurities are.
A Closer Look at The Beauty’s Story and Cast
The Beauty is based on a comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. Ryan Murphy, known for shows like American Horror Story, is bringing it to television. The series has a large ensemble cast. Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall play FBI agents investigating the mysterious deaths linked to the Beauty drug. Anthony Ramos plays an assassin, and Jeremy Pope is an outsider drawn into the crisis.
Kutcher plays a key role as Byron Forst, also known as the Corporation. He is the tech billionaire behind the dangerous “Beauty” treatment. The show will also feature guest stars like Bella Hadid and Vincent D’Onofrio.
The first trailer for the series was released in early January 2026. It quickly set a record for FX, getting nearly 190 million views across social media in just one week. This shows a high level of audience interest before the show has even aired.
Where and When to Watch The Beauty
The Beauty will have its world premiere on FX on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. For viewers who prefer streaming, the first three episodes will be available the next day, on Thursday, January 22, on Hulu in the United States.
International viewers will be able to watch the series on Disney+, where it will also be released. After the initial three-episode drop, new episodes will be released weekly, building toward the season finale on March 4, 2026.
Demi Moore’s Acclaimed Role in The Substance
The connection between the two projects is made more interesting by the personal history between the stars. Kutcher and Moore were married from 2005 to 2013. Moore’s performance in The Substance has been widely praised as one of the best of her career.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, where it won the award for Best Screenplay. It was released in theaters in the United States and the United Kingdom in September 2024. Moore’s portrayal of Elisabeth Sparkle earned her major awards, including a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award nomination. Kutcher, in his recent comments, expressed clear pride in her achievement.
โOne, Demi Mooreโs performance, obviously she got extraordinary accolades. Iโm so proud of her. She killed it,โ Kutcher told Entertainment Tonight.
The film itself was a critical and commercial success. It earned over $77 million at the global box office and won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for its incredible and often grotesque practical effects.
Why This Shared Theme Resonates Now
Both Kutcher and Ryan Murphy have explained that their show is tapping into current cultural trends. Murphy has described The Beauty as a direct commentary on “Ozempic culture,” referring to the widespread use of drugs for rapid weight loss and physical transformation. The series asks how far people will go and what they are willing to risk for beauty.
Kutcher expanded on this, noting the social acceptance of cosmetic procedures. He argued that the driving force is often personal happiness rather than the final aesthetic result, but that the journey is not without risk.
This theme clearly connects with audiences. The massive viewership of The Beauty trailer and the awards won by The Substance suggest that stories examining the costs of vanity and the pressure to look perfect are striking a chord.
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How The Beauty Differs in Its Approach
While the themes overlap, The Beauty will explore them on a larger, more societal scale. Instead of one woman’s personal nightmare like in The Substance, the FX series presents a full-blown epidemic. It is framed as a medical mystery and a conspiracy thriller, with law enforcement and government agencies trying to contain the spread of a deadly, beauty-giving contagion.
The series also boasts Ryan Murphy’s signature high-production style and a large cast, promising a mix of horror, science fiction, and social satire. The story is based on a comic that began in 2014, long before The Substance was released, which addresses questions about which project came first.
