Hulu’s ‘The Testaments’ Sequel to Begin Production April 7

Los Angeles, California — Hulu has officially ordered a sequel series titled “The Testaments,” based on the 2019 Margaret Atwood novel, with production scheduled to commence on April 7. This follow-up to the critically acclaimed series “The Handmaid's Tale” unfolds in the dystopian theocracy of Gilead more than 15 years after the original story.

Executive producers Bruce Miller and Warren Littlefield will return for this project, with Elisabeth Moss, who starred as June Osbourne in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” also serving as an executive producer. While Moss may reprise her role, her involvement as a guest star will hinge on the outcome of her character’s fate in the final episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” premiering April 8.

The ensemble cast for “The Testaments” recently expanded to include nine new characters: Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. These actors will depict a new generation of women in Gilead, grappling with the oppressive societal norms of their world.

In this coming-of-age story, young women raised in Gilead must confront their bleak futures. Having no memories of life before Gilead, they face forced marriages and enslavement, igniting a search for allies to aid their quest for freedom. The core cast includes Chase Infiniti as Agnes, Lucy Halliday as Daisy, and Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia, alongside Rowan Blanchard as Shunammite and Mattea Conforti as Becka.

Details about the new characters reveal a diverse array of personalities: Li plays Aunt Vidala, a strict disciplinarian with aspirations in Gilead’s women’s sphere. Seimetz portrays Paula, a high-ranking Commander’s new wife dealing with family complexities. Alexander’s Garth is a young Commander entangled in the girls’ lives. Aunt Gabbana, played by Darnell-Martin, promotes Gilead’s values, while Aunt Estee, embodied by Foote, is affectionately known as the ‘cool Aunt’ for her kindness.

Additionally, Ardies’ character Hulda represents youthful innocence, while Mpumlwana’s Jehosheba is driven by ambitions of social status. Pandya’s Miriam is encumbered by the societal pressure of impending marriages, and Guloien’s Rosa serves as a nurturing figure for Agnes.

The creative team behind “The Testaments” includes showrunner Bruce Miller, who will also direct the first three episodes. Alongside him are executive producers Littlefield, Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Mike Barker.

As “The Handmaid’s Tale” nears its conclusion, this sequel aims to explore new narratives while remaining connected to its predecessor’s themes of oppression, resistance, and hope.