Ashton Kutcher is embracing the conversation around his new television project and its thematic parallels to a recent film starring his ex-wife, Demi Moore. The actor is set to return to television next week in the FX series 'The Beauty,' where he portrays a biotech billionaire who releases a revolutionary cosmetic drug with horrifying consequences.
Navigating Similar Themes with a Different Lens
In an interview with 'Entertainment Tonight' this week, Kutcher directly addressed the comparisons between his series and the 2024 body horror film 'The Substance,' which featured Moore in an Oscar-nominated role. He expressed immense pride in Moore's performance, which earned widespread critical acclaim. 'Demi's performance in 'The Substance'... she got extraordinary accolades. I'm so proud of her, she killed it,' Kutcher stated.
He clarified, however, that while both projects explore society's obsession with youth and cosmetic enhancement, they approach the subject differently. 'The bigger context, though, is we're in a society where cosmetic enhancement is becoming increasingly predominant and accepted. It's a weird thing,' he observed. Kutcher explained that co-creator Ryan Murphy aimed to explore how beauty is uniquely defined for each character, often leading to unintended and severe outcomes.
A Look Back and Moving Forward
Kutcher and Moore were married from 2005 to 2013. The dissolution of their marriage became public fodder, particularly after Moore's 2019 memoir, 'Inside Out,' where she detailed personal struggles, including introducing a third party into their relationship at Kutcher's request and subsequent feelings of shame.
Since their divorce, Kutcher married his 'That '70s Show' co-star Mila Kunis in 2015, and they share two children. He has maintained a respectful relationship with Moore's three daughters from her marriage to Bruce Willis—Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah Willis—whom he considers his former stepdaughters. 'I loved them, and I'm never gonna stop loving them and respecting them,' he said on a past podcast.
Professional Renaissances and Personal Peace
When asked about his current dynamic with Moore, Kutcher summarized it succinctly: 'It's all good, we don't hang out... there's no badness.' Both actors are currently enjoying significant career moments.
Moore is experiencing a major professional resurgence following her chilling role in 'The Substance,' with another film, 'I Love Boosters,' slated for release later this year. Meanwhile, Kutcher is poised to captivate audiences with the dark satire of 'The Beauty,' premiering next week on FX. The series promises a grim exploration of the price of perfection in a world increasingly willing to pay it.
