What to Expect With 'The Handmaid's Tale' Sequel 'The Testaments'

The Handmaid's Tale is getting a sequel series, titled The Testaments, Hulu has confirmed.

The hugely successful drama based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name is returning for its fifth season on September 14, and Season 6 will be its last. But the story will continue with The Testaments. The Hulu sequel is being developed by Bruce Miller, The Handmaid's Tale's creator and executive producer.

Every season, The Handmaid's Tale has been nominated for the outstanding drama series Emmy, and the series has also racked up multiple acting nominations. Elisabeth Moss won for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2018.

Announcing the news about The Testaments, Miller said in a press release via Hulu: "It has been a true honor to tell the story of Margaret Atwood's groundbreaking novel and chillingly relevant world, and we are thrilled to bring viewers a sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale.

"We are grateful to Hulu and MGM for allowing us to tell this story, which unfortunately has remained as relevant as ever throughout its run, and are in awe of our incredible fans for their unwavering support, and without whom we never would have gotten to this point," Miller said.

Following the announcement, Newsweek has looked into everything that's known so far about The Testaments.

What to Expect From the Handmaid's Tale Sequel

Like The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments is based on a dystopian novel of the same name by Atwood. That sequel, which was published in 2019, is set 15 years after the original story.

The Testaments is told through the eyes of its three female narrators, who are all tied to the Republic of Gilead in their own ways.

One narrator is Aunt Lydia, the infamous villain from The Handmaid's Tale. The character is portrayed by Ann Dowd, and it's likely she will reprise her role for the sequel.

The other two narrators in The Testaments are Agnes, a young woman living in Gilead whose parents want her to marry a Commander, and Daisy, a young woman living in Canada with her overprotective parents. No casting announcements regarding these characters have been made yet.

Throughout The Testaments, readers get more insight into how the Aunt training program began and are introduced to the Pearl Girls, a group of young female missionaries who are sent abroad to spread the word of Gilead.

As The Handmaid's Tale fans know, the Aunts are some of the highest-ranking women in Gilead and are responsible for training the Handmaids and overseeing births and executions.

The book also delves more into the backstory of Aunt Lydia, although some of this has already been portrayed on screen in The Handmaid's Tale.

The Handmaid's Tale was one book instead of a series, so the TV show has extended beyond Atwood's novel. Similarly, The Testaments is a single novel, so it's likely the new series will have scenes and storylines that go beyond its source material.

When Will The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Be Released?

Season 5 of The Handmaid's Tale is set to premiere September 14 on Hulu. The trailer shows that June, Moss's character, may be forced to face consequences for killing Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) in a previous episode.

Meanwhile, newly widowed Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) mourns her husband, and Gilead's influence appears to be rising in Canada.