Get ready to go back to Gilead. As the real world feels increasingly grim, Hulu is preparing to hold up a mirror once again with the highly anticipated sequel series, The Testaments. Based on Margaret Atwood’s follow-up novel, this new chapter promises to take viewers back into the repressive world of Gilead, picking up shortly after the semi-hopeful finale of the original series.
Hulu has officially confirmed that The Testaments will premiere on April 8, bringing a “dramatic coming-of-age story” to the dystopian franchise.
The Plot: A New Generation in Gilead
While The Handmaid’s Tale focused on the brutal struggle of the handmaids, The Testaments shifts its lens to the next generation. The official synopsis describes the series as an “evolution” of the original show.
The story centers on two young teenagers navigating the treacherous landscape of the regime:
- Agnes (Chase Infiniti): A “dutiful and pious” young woman raised within the system.
- Daisy (Lucy Halliday): A new arrival and convert who comes from beyond Gilead’s borders.
The narrative follows these two girls as they navigate the “gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives,” a terrifying institution where obedience is instilled brutally and with divine justification. According to the show’s description, the bond formed between Agnes and Daisy will become the catalyst that “will upend their past, their present, and their future”.
The Cast: Ann Dowd Returns
The biggest news for longtime fans is the return of Ann Dowd, reprising her Emmy-winning role as Aunt Lydia. Known as one of the most complex villains on television—and occasionally “heartbreakingly sympathetic”—Dowd anchors a cast of fresh faces.
Joining her is rising star Chase Infiniti in the leading role of Agnes, fresh off her breakout performance in One Battle After Another. The ensemble cast also includes:
- Lucy Halliday as Daisy.
- Mabel Li.
- Amy Seimetz.
- Rowan Blanchard.
- Mattea Conforti.
Production Team and the “June” Question
The creative DNA of The Handmaid’s Tale remains intact for this sequel. Bruce Miller, the showrunner of the original series, returns to handle the same duties for The Testaments. He also serves as an executive producer alongside original star and frequent director Elisabeth Moss.
Moss’s involvement behind the scenes has fueled speculation about whether her character, the “unsinkable” June Osborne, will appear on screen. While Hulu has not confirmed a cameo, reports suggest it is likely given the story’s trajectory and the source material.
Release Schedule and First Look
Hulu has dropped several first-look images, revealing that Gilead looks as “burnished and terrifying as ever,” despite the revolutionary events of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6.
Mark your calendars: The Testaments drops its first three episodes on April 8 on Hulu, followed by a weekly rollout for the remainder of the season.
