Hulu Announces “The Testaments” Series: Handmaid’s Tale Sequel Set to Stream in 2026

Hulu is officially ushering viewers back into Gilead with “The Testaments,” the long-awaited sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The 10-episode first season begins with a three-episode drop on 8 April 2026, followed by weekly instalments every Wednesday, exclusively on Hulu and the new Hulu on Disney+ tier in the US. Plot and timeline Set more than a decade after the events of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the series adapts Margaret Atwood’s award-winning 2019 novel. It centres on three converging story lines: Agnes (now a teenager raised under Gilead doctrine), Daisy (a Canadian girl whose shocking family secret pulls her south of the border) and the formidable Aunt Lydia, who begins to see cracks in the theocracy she helped build. Their intertwined journeys promise fresh insight into the fragile power structure of Gilead and the sparks of rebellion that threaten to burn it down. Star-studded, next-gen cast • Chase Infiniti leads as Agnes (Hannah) • Lucy Halliday portrays Daisy/Nicole • Emmy winner Ann Dowd reprises Aunt Lydia, providing continuity with the parent show • Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Eva Foote, Amy Seimetz and Mabel Li headline the ensemble alongside a fresh crop of “Aunts,” “Wives” and “Pearl Girls.” Behind the camera Bruce Miller, creator of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” returns as showrunner, joined by executive producers Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss and director Mike Barker, who helms the opening trilogy of episodes. Filming wrapped in Toronto in mid-2025, allowing for extensive post-production to capture Atwood’s colder, more clandestine vision of resistance. Why this sequel matters • Continuation of a cultural phenomenon: “The Handmaid’s Tale” ended in 2025 but left June’s legacy unresolved; “The Testaments” offers closure while rebooting the franchise for a Gen-Z audience. • Fresh vantage point: shifting the narrative to younger women widens demographic reach and reinvigorates conversation around bodily autonomy, faith extremism and political resistance. • Standalone entry point: Hulu confirms viewers need not finish the original series to follow the new plot, making it attractive to first-time streamers researching the hottest spring premieres. How to watch and binge plan 1. Mark 8 April 2026 for the triple-episode launch. 2. Set weekly reminders each Wednesday through the 27 May finale. 3. For cord-cutters abroad, Disney+’s Star hub will carry the show day-and-date in most territories; UK and Australia time zones place the drop in the early hours of Thursday. Fan buzz and trailer takeaways The newly released two-minute trailer teases ceremonial dances beneath looming Aunt Lydia statues, explosives hidden in prayer books and an ominous whisper: “Blessed be the daughters who will end this.” Social media metrics show the hashtag #TheTestaments trending globally within an hour of release, signalling breakout potential on par with the original hit. Bottom line With an 8 April launch date, a fearless new cast and the pedigree of Atwood’s universe, “The Testaments” is positioned to dominate spring 2026 streaming charts and reignite water-cooler debate about the real-world parallels of Gilead.