Return to Gilead: ‘The Testaments’ Premiere Date Revealed
Prepare to revisit the chilling world of Gilead. Hulu has officially announced the premiere date for The Testaments, the sequel series to the critically acclaimed The Handmaid’s Tale. Starting April 8th, fans can once again immerse themselves in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian universe.
What to Expect from ‘The Testaments’
The highly anticipated series will launch with three episodes, followed by a weekly release schedule. Viewers in the U.S. can access the Hulu original on both Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ (for bundle subscribers). Internationally, the series will be available exclusively on Disney+.
The Testaments isn’t just a continuation; it’s an evolution. Based on Atwood’s novel of the same name, the series shifts its focus to the younger generation growing up within Gilead. The story centers on Agnes and Daisy, two young women navigating the strict and brutal world of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives. Their burgeoning bond promises to challenge the foundations of Gilead and reshape their destinies.
Familiar Faces and New Characters
Ann Dowd reprises her iconic role as Aunt Lydia, bringing her chilling presence back to the screen. The series introduces Chase Infiniti as Agnes/Hannah, the daughter of June Osborne (played by Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale). Joining them are Lucy Halliday, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, and Birva Pandya, forming a compelling ensemble cast.
While Elisabeth Moss’s direct involvement hasn’t been confirmed, June Osborne’s legacy will undoubtedly loom large over The Testaments, given the events of The Handmaid’s Tale’s finale.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
Bruce Miller, the showrunner and executive producer of The Handmaid’s Tale, returns to helm The Testaments. He also penned the finale of The Handmaid’s Tale, directed by Moss, bringing the original series to a full-circle conclusion. The sequel series is executive produced by Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Mike Barker (who directs the first three episodes).
As Atwood and Miller previously discussed in The Hollywood Reporter’s oral history, Atwood’s sequel novel played a crucial role in shaping the ending of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Official Logline
“An evolution of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments is based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name and is a dramatic coming-of-age story set in Gilead. The series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders. As they navigate the gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, a place where obedience is instilled brutally and always with divine justification, their bond becomes the catalyst that will upend their past, their present, and their future.”
