Sex & Transformation: Ryan Murphy Returns to FX With New Thriller Series “The Beauty” (Patreon)

Ryan Murphy is back on FX with a brand-new series.

His upcoming show, titled The Beauty, follows two FBI agents investigating the spread of a mysterious new drug that transforms people into physically perfect versions of themselves.

Starring:

Meghan Trainor

Peter Gallagher

Lux Pascal

Nicola Peltz Beckham

Ari Graynor

Jessica Alexander

Amelia Gray Hamlin

Ben Platt

Billy Eichner

Jon Jon Briones

John Carroll Lynch

Vincent D’Onofrio

Jaquel Spivey

Julie Halston

With guest star: Bella Hadid

The series premieres January 21, 2026, on FX with the first three episodes dropping at once.

The Beauty is based on the 2016 graphic novel of the same name by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley.

The original graphic novel features explicit body-horror transformation scenes, full-frontal nudity (both male and female), and frequent sexual content. In the story, sex plays a major role because it’s the primary way the virus spreads.

Early in the novel, there’s a scene where a man has sex with a stranger in a bathroom, collapses, and later wakes up with a completely transformed body — six-pack abs, perfect features, and a model-like appearance.

However, sex in the story isn’t portrayed as romantic or pleasurable — it’s transactional, a tool to obtain “The Beauty.”

As of now, it’s unclear how much sexual content the series will include. Nudity seems likely, but so far IMDb only lists an intimacy coordinator for Episode 1.

We’ll likely know more soon — the first teaser is expected next week.