Hulu Adapting Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments” — Cast, Release Date & How It Connects to “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Fans of dystopian drama have fresh cause for excitement: Hulu has officially ordered The Handmaid’s Tale follow-up, The Testaments, and cameras are set to roll on 7 April 2025. Set more than 15 years after June Osborne’s rebellion, the new series adapts Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel and shifts the focus to three younger women who have only ever known the rigid theocracy of Gilead. Their intertwined journeys—Agnes, raised as a Commander’s daughter; Daisy, smuggled to Canada as a baby; and the formidable Aunt Lydia—promise to expand the franchise’s universe while answering lingering questions about Gilead’s future. CAST AND CHARACTERS • Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, now wielding even greater power over Gilead’s indoctrination machine. • New leads include Chase Infiniti (Agnes), Lucy Halliday (Daisy), and Rowan Blanchard (Shunammite). • Nine additional cast members—Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien—round out key Aunts, Marthas, and young Brides. • Elisabeth Moss is executive-producing and hopes to guest-star as June, depending on the events of The Handmaid’s Tale’s sixth and final season. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT PRODUCTION Showrunner Bruce Miller teams again with executive producer Warren Littlefield. Mike Barker (who directed the original pilot) will helm the first three episodes, ensuring visual continuity between the flagship hit and its sequel. Filming will take place in Toronto and Ontario, mirroring the atmospheric locations that gave Gilead its stark look. EXPECTED RELEASE WINDOW Hulu has not stamped an exact premiere date, but an early-2026 launch is likely if production stays on schedule and post-production follows The Handmaid’s Tale’s typical 10-to-12-month turnaround. That timing would place The Testaments squarely in awards-season contention while keeping the momentum of the finale fresh for viewers. STORY THEMES The Testaments explores: • The indoctrination of the next generation of Gileadean girls. • Underground resistance tactics that evolve beyond Mayday. • Aunt Lydia’s complicated path from oppressor to potential saboteur. • Cross-border tensions as Canada becomes a battleground for information leaks and refugee protection. WHY THIS MATTERS FOR STREAMING FANS The Handmaid’s Tale remains one of Hulu’s most-watched originals, and search volume for “The Testaments Hulu release date,” “Handmaid’s Tale sequel,” and “Aunt Lydia backstory” has spiked each time casting or production news drops. By centering on fan-favorite Lydia while introducing Gen-Z heroines, Hulu positions The Testaments to capture both longtime viewers and newcomers looking for a fresh entry point. HOW TO WATCH The Testaments will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. Internationally, the series is expected on Disney+ under the Star banner, following Hulu Originals’ global rollout model. Fans can add the show to their watchlists now to receive automatic premiere alerts. BOTTOM LINE With filming underway, an expanded cast, and source material that already topped bestseller lists, The Testaments is primed to become Hulu’s next flagship drama. Keep this page bookmarked for trailer drops, first-look photos, and confirmed release dates as Hulu ushers viewers back into the chilling world of Gilead.