The transition from the high-fashion runways of Paris and Milan to the gritty, often macabre world of prestige television is a path few have navigated with as much intrigue as Bella Hadid. Three years after her initial foray into the acting world, the 29-year-old icon is set to solidify her status as a dramatic force in The Beauty, a new FX horror series that promises to be as provocative as it is terrifying. Created by the prolific Ryan Murphy and adapted from the acclaimed comic book series by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, the show explores a world where physical perfection comes at a lethal cost. Hadid takes on the pivotal role of Ruby, a woman caught in the crosshairs of a sexually transmitted disease that, in a dark twist of irony, makes its hosts breathtakingly beautiful before eventually claiming their lives.
The buzz surrounding Hadid’s performance is already reaching a fever pitch, particularly from those who shared the screen with her. In a series of recent insights, costars Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall offered glowing reviews of the model-turned-actress, describing her presence on set as nothing short of "incredible." Hall, the 43-year-old veteran of stage and screen, noted that there is something inherently magnetic about Hadid’s portrayal of Ruby. She described the performance as "wild" and "provocative," noting that Hadid possesses a natural screen presence that makes her "amazingly watchable." For an actress of Hall’s caliber to offer such high praise suggests that Hadid has successfully shed her runway persona to inhabit a character defined by vulnerability and horror.
Evan Peters, a long-time staple of the Ryan Murphy cinematic universe, echoed these sentiments. While the 38-year-old actor jokingly maintained that he has "no favorites" when it comes to the revolving door of guest stars Murphy attracts, he was quick to commend Hadid’s work ethic and execution. He specifically highlighted a scene involving significant stunt work, noting that Hadid did a "great job" navigating the physical demands of the role. This commitment to the craft is a hallmark of Murphy’s productions, which often require actors to push themselves into uncomfortable, high-intensity territory.
The Beauty is shaping up to be a genre-bending experiment that defies simple categorization. When asked to describe the storyline, Peters quipped that it is an "international sci-fi, satirical body horror, action drama." This eclectic mix of genres suggests that the show will tackle themes of vanity, societal obsession with image, and the biological horrors of perfection, all wrapped in a high-stakes thriller. The cast is equally impressive, featuring a blend of Hollywood heavyweights and rising stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, and the legendary Isabella Rossellini.
For both Peters and Hall, the decision to join the project was a foregone conclusion once Ryan Murphy made the call. Peters, who has built a career on transformative roles in American Horror Story and Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, views Murphy as an "incredible collaborator." He noted that while Murphy always arrives with a singular, strong vision, he remains remarkably open to the creative input of his actors. Hall, who is also collaborating with Murphy on the upcoming Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, shared a similar sentiment, expressing a desire to explore "strange areas" that challenge her own expectations as a performer. The Beauty is set to premiere on January 21, launching with three episodes on Hulu and FX, marking a major highlight for the winter television season.
As the industry prepares for the arrival of The Beauty, a wider look at the January television landscape reveals a month packed with returning favorites and bold new premieres. For fans of reality competition, the year kicks off on January 2 with the return of RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV. The new season introduces 14 queens vying for the title of "America’s Next Drag Superstar" and a staggering $200,000 cash prize. The stakes are higher than ever, with an official makeup collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills on the line, ensuring that the glamour will be as fierce as the competition.
True crime enthusiasts will have their fix on January 4 with the season 36 debut of Snapped on Oxygen, continuing its long-running exploration of high-profile criminal cases. This will be followed on January 6 by a heavy-hitting lineup of procedurals and dramas. ABC brings back Nathan Fillion for the eighth season of The Rookie, while Ramón Rodríguez returns for the fourth season of Will Trent. On the unscripted side, TLC’s 1000-Lb Sisters returns with a season that promises both major life milestones and simmering family conflict. Amy is deep in the throes of planning a Halloween-themed wedding to Brian, while Tammy celebrates her independence following skin-removal surgery. Despite their personal growth, the tension between the sisters remains a central pillar of the series.
PBS will also return with its hit genealogical series Finding Your Roots on January 6. Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will guide 20 new celebrity guests through their ancestral histories, uncovering stories of survival and migration that span centuries. Meanwhile, Fox introduces a new medical drama, Best Medicine, starring Josh Charles as Dr. Martin Best. The series follows a brilliant surgeon who leaves a prestigious Boston career to become a general practitioner in a small fishing village. The show explores the friction between his blunt personality and the quirky needs of the locals, while hinting at a deeper trauma that prevents him from forming close connections.
The second week of January brings even more variety. The Masked Singer returns to Fox on January 7 for its 14th season, promising a new roster of mystery celebrities. On January 8, Bravo expands its reality empire with The Valley: Persian Style, a spinoff focusing on a group of Persian friends navigating life in the suburbs. That same night, Peacock debuts the fourth season of The Traitors, where alliances and betrayals take center stage in a high-stakes game of strategy. Netflix also enters the fray on January 8 with HIS & HERS, a psychological thriller set in Atlanta starring a news anchor who becomes obsessed with a murder in her hometown.
As the month progresses, the quality of storytelling only intensifies. NBC’s The Hunting Party, starring Melissa Roxburgh, premieres on January 8, offering a high-concept procedural about a team of investigators tracking escaped killers from a secret government prison. On January 9, Hulu debuts A Thousand Blows, a gritty historical drama set in the 1880s East End of London, focusing on the brutal struggle for survival and the return of a gang leader determined to reclaim her crown.
Mid-month highlights include the return of Tell Me Lies for its third season on Hulu on January 13, continuing the toxic and addictive romance between Lucy and Stephen. National Geographic will also premiere Pole to Pole With Will Smith, a five-year project that follows the actor across all seven continents, from the Antarctic icefields to the Amazon rainforest. For those seeking something more daring, Johnny Knoxville hosts the return of Fear Factor: House of Fear on Fox starting January 14, where strangers must endure harrowing stunts in a remote location.
The final stretch of January brings some of the most anticipated releases of the year. HBO returns to the world of Westeros on January 18 with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, an endearing tale of an unexpected duo in the Game of Thrones universe. On January 21, the same day The Beauty debuts, Apple TV+ launches the second season of the multilingual drama Drops of God, following Camille and Issei as they search for the origins of the world’s greatest wine.
The month concludes with a flurry of major hits: American Idol returns for its 24th season overall on January 26, with Carrie Underwood joining the judging panel. On January 28, Jason Segel’s acclaimed comedy Shrinking returns to Apple TV+, and on January 29, Netflix finally unveils the fourth season of Bridgerton. This season shifts the focus to Benedict Bridgerton, the bohemian second son, as he encounters a mysterious "Lady in Silver" at a masquerade ball, setting the stage for the Regency era’s next great romance. With such a diverse and high-quality slate of programming, January 2025 is set to be a transformative month for television fans.
