‘The Testaments’ Teases First Glimpse of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Follow-Up Series Set to Premiere in 2026

Hulu is set to return audiences to the dystopian world of Gilead with its upcoming series, The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaids Tale. The first visuals and the premiere date were unveiled at CCXP25 in Brazil, confirming a launch in April 2026 on both Hulu and Disney+.

Based on Margaret Atwoods 2019 Booker Prize-winning follow-up novel, the series revisits Gilead through a new generation of young women. Early photos feature the return of Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, alongside newcomers including Chase Infiniti as Agnes/Hannah, June Osbornes daughter, and Lucy Halliday, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, and Birva Pandya in prominent roles.

Halliday portrays Daisy, a Canadian teen discovering her link to Gilead, while Blanchards character Shunammite is a privileged young woman from a prominent family. Ardies plays Hulda, a naive girl excited about adulthood; Mpumlwana is Jehosheba, a competitive peer; and Pandya plays Miriam, who faces the pressures of impending marriage.

Series Synopsis

The Testaments explores life in the theocratic society of Gilead years after The Handmaids Tale. The story focuses on teenage girls raised entirely within Gilead, unaware of the outside world, who must navigate forced marriages and a life of servitude. As they struggle, they seek allies to fight for freedom and a future of their choosing.

The show is produced by MGM Television, with Bruce Miller serving as showrunner and executive producer. Miller, who created The Handmaids Tale and ran its first five seasons, also wrote the series finale. The production team includes Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Mike Barker, who will direct the first three episodes.

Though Moss on-screen return as June Osborne hasnt been confirmed, her characters presence remains central to the storyline, continuing her quest to reunite with her daughter Hannah. Miller emphasized that Junes influence persists in The Testaments as part of the larger resistance against Gilead, even if she isnt always seen.

Set four years after the events of The Handmaids Tale series, The Testaments follows young women being trained as wives under Aunt Lydias guidance. Their perspective contrasts with Junes experience in the original series, highlighting teenage rebellion and the stark reality of a life shaped entirely by Gileads rules.

Production of The Testaments began six weeks after filming wrapped on the final season of The Handmaids Tale, with development starting in 2023, promising a continuation of the chilling world Atwood created while focusing on the new generation challenging it.

Author: Noah Whitman