Praise be! The highly anticipated series The Testaments has been officially picked up by Hulu and is set to begin production on April 7. The streaming service shared this exciting news alongside a photo from the table read, giving fans a glimpse into the upcoming project. This follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale will see the return of Ann Dowd, who reprises her role as Aunt Lydia, a character beloved by audiences.
Elisabeth Moss, the star, director, and executive producer of The Handmaid’s Tale, will also serve as an executive producer for The Testaments. She is joined by previously announced leads Chase Infiniti, portraying Agnes, and Lucy Halliday, who plays Daisy. Additionally, a talented new cast has been introduced, including Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. Rowan Blanchard (playing Shunammite) and Mattea Conforti (in the role of Becka) were initially confirmed as part of the cast.
The Testaments is adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel and will be guided by creator Bruce Miller, who also served as the showrunner for The Handmaid’s Tale. This celebrated series, which first premiered in 2017, is based on Atwood's best-selling 1985 dystopian novel and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Emmy for Best Drama. As the show continues to evolve, Miller has engaged in active development with MGM since 2022, focusing on bringing The Testaments to life.
Set years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments aims to delve deeper into the world of Gilead. The character Agnes, previously known as Hannah, is the daughter of June Osborne, portrayed by Moss. The original series has primarily followed June's harrowing quest to reunite with her daughter, and The Testaments is poised to explore Agnes’ journey within the confines of Gilead.
Moss recently discussed the emotional weight of filming the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, reflecting on her experiences as a mother. “It was incredibly meaningful to be able to end this show as a mom,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “All mothers are heroines, and she’s definitely a heroine.”
The Testaments is described as a coming-of-age story that focuses on a new generation of young women growing up in Gilead. For these characters, the oppressive environment is all they have ever known, with no memories of life before their indoctrination. As they face the grim realities of being married off and living in servitude, they must seek allies—both new and old—who can aid them in their quest for freedom and a life worth living.
The start of production for The Testaments continues the fruitful partnership between Miller, Atwood, and executive producer Warren Littlefield with Hulu and MGM Television. Since its debut, The Handmaid’s Tale has not only launched Hulu's scripted originals but has also made history as the first streaming show to win Best Drama at the Emmys, defeating competitors like Netflix and Amazon. Ann Dowd's performance earned her the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in the inaugural season, along with two additional nominations in subsequent years.
Produced by MGM Television, The Testaments is helmed by showrunner and executive producer Bruce Miller. The production team also includes Littlefield, who heads The Littlefield Company (known for projects like Fargo, The Old Man, and Dopesick), along with Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and director Mike Barker, who will direct the first three episodes of the series.
As fans eagerly await the release of The Testaments, the anticipation continues to build for what promises to be another powerful chapter in the ongoing saga of Gilead.
