According to reports, Ryan Murphy wrote the character specifically for Kutcher following a deep conversation between the two about society’s obsession with beauty, weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, and cosmetic surgery. The series taps directly into anxieties about body image and the commodification of physical appearance.
Kutcher also serves as executive producer on the project — a role that signals genuine creative investment rather than a simple acting gig. The series airs Wednesdays on FX, with episodes streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Who is Ryan Murphy?
Ryan Murphy is one of Hollywood’s most prolific showrunners, responsible for long-running franchises including American Horror Story and American Crime Story. His FX productions consistently attract major talent and generate significant cultural conversation. Being cast as the lead in a Murphy series is widely considered a prestige move in the entertainment industry.
Reading the Unabomber’s manifesto: how Kutcher prepared for the darkest role of his career
To inhabit a character capable of engineering mass harm, Kutcher took unconventional steps. He told The Hollywood Reporter: "It’s a fun challenge to try to justify what appear to be absolutely unjustifiable decisions." Understanding that psychology required research beyond standard acting preparation.
Among the methods he used: reading the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, as part of what he described as a "banned book club." The goal, according to Kutcher, was to understand how a person could rationalize causing harm to others — a mindset central to Byron Forst’s character.
The physical demands of the role were equally deliberate. Several scenes required Kutcher to appear shirtless. He worked closely with a trainer, adjusted his diet, and cut out alcohol entirely during production. During his press tour, he also addressed long-running public speculation about his personal hygiene habits, stating plainly: "I shower, I go to the gym, I shower." His co-star Anthony Ramos backed him up: "I can confirm my boy showers."
