Naman Shrestha
Created by Ryan Murphy and Matt Hodgson, FX’s ‘The Beauty’ is an adaptation of the eponymous comic book written by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. The science fiction thriller drama series revolves around a new sexually transmitted treatment called “the Beauty,” which promises to make the users breathtakingly attractive through aesthetic-based genetic makeup. However, when its lethal side effects begin spreading and unravel many lives, two detectives, Drew Foster and Kara Vaughn, investigate the aesthetic treatment.
As they delve deeper into the side effects of the STD treatment and the deaths of supermodels, the duo must face the wrath of a dangerous mercenary and corrupt politicians while fighting for their lives. The body horror show features stellar on-screen performances from Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Ashton Kutcher, and Rebecca Hall, and takes us on a globe-trotting journey as the characters fight their own battles in Italy and France.
The Beauty Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘The Beauty’ is conducted in New York, Italy, and France, particularly in New York City, Orangetown, Lazio, Venice, and Paris. According to reports, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the thriller series got underway in early December 2024 and went on for about six months before wrapping up in June 2025.
New York City, New York
A significant chunk of ‘The Beauty’ was reportedly lensed in New York City, situated at the southern tip of New York State. The production team seemingly set up camp at different streets and neighborhoods across the Big Apple to record many pivotal indoor and outdoor sequences. It is likely that a few iconic landmarks and buildings associated with NYC are featured in the series, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and more.
Orangetown, New York
Additional portions of the Ashton Kutcher starrer were also shot in Orangetown. In late January 2025, the cast and crew members were spotted taping key scenes in and around the hamlet and census-designated place of Pearl River. Given its proximity to the Hudson River, it is possible that the river features in the backdrop of numerous exterior scenes.
Lazio, Italy
Located in Italy’s central peninsular section, Lazio served as one of the prominent production locations for ‘The Beauty.’ The filming unit specifically turned the streets of the capital of the region, Rome, into film sets for recording key portions. They reportedly filmed a few outdoor scenes at the iconic Trevi Fountain on Piazza di Trevi in Rome in the middle of the night. In March 2025, the RMF yacht was utilized to lens the yacht scenes involving Ashton Kutcher’s character in the Lazio region.
Talking about his experience shooting the series in Italy, Kutcher told OutNow, “Italy is always wild. Water taxis bring the equipment, history on every street corner, the humanity. You realise how young America is in comparison, because these cities and streets tell the course of history and how it has changed. The houses, the fashion and the influence on the present day – brilliant.” Besides ‘The Beauty,’ Lazio has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows over the years, including ‘The Bourne Identity,’ ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley,’ ‘The Equalizer 3,’ ‘Catch-22,’ and ‘The Monster of Florence.’
Venice, Italy
Many pivotal sequences for the Ryan Murphy and Matt Hodgson creation were taped on location in the scenic city of Venice, the capital of Italy’s Veneto region. The narrow streets, the famous canals, and the bridges feature in multiple scenes. In the same interview with OutNow, Anthony elaborated on his wonderful experience. He stated, “It was amazing, of course – the food, the architecture, the people. This shoot was beautiful. We also had the chance to spend time together in Rome and Venice. In New York, everyone runs home after the shoot wraps, but in Italy we were in the same hotel, in the bars, which really contributed to the good mood. And then those alleys and bridges in Venice. We have this one short scene with the masked gondolier; that’s something I’ll remember.”
Paris, France
For the purpose of shooting, the production team also traveled all the way to the capital of France — Paris. In the establishing shots, you are likely to spot numerous landmarks and places of interest, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Palais Garnier, and the Panthéon. Other popular film and TV projects that feature the City of Light include ‘The Substance,’ ‘Inception,’ ‘Lucy,’ ‘Tomorrowland,’ ‘The Beast,’ ‘Last Light,’ and ‘Sense8.’
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