The Handmaid’s Tale has officially wrapped up with a dramatic conclusion in its sixth and final season, bringing closure to June Osborne’s (Elisabeth Moss) journey to escape Gilead and help others do the same. However, this doesn’t mean the larger narrative is over. Gilead still stands, and the resistance continues.
The next chapter will unfold in a sequel series titled The Testaments, inspired by another novel by Margaret Atwood. Set further in the future, the series will feature a mix of familiar and new characters. While many details remain under wraps, some key information has been shared — including story directions drawn from Atwood’s book, casting announcements, and character confirmations — giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come.
When Will The Testaments Be Released?
There’s no official release date for The Testaments yet, as the series is still in the early phases of production. Filming reportedly began in April 2025, with several sightings around various locations in Canada. While there’s a possibility the show could premiere as early as late 2025, a 2026 release is the more likely timeline.
What Is The Testaments About?
Although Margaret Atwood’s novel The Testaments is set 15 years after The Handmaid’s Tale, the TV adaptation will take place roughly 4 to 5 years after the events of the original series. Based on Atwood’s 2019 follow-up novel—which she released after the show had already gained success—the sequel aims to expand the narrative, offering a fresh perspective on Gilead and a glimpse into its future.
The story centers around three key characters. Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, a complex figure who begins to show cracks in her loyalty to Gilead. She’s joined by Agnes (played by Chase Infiniti), who is actually June’s daughter, Hannah, renamed after being taken from her parents and raised by a Commander’s family. The third lead is Daisy (portrayed by Lucy Halliday), a young woman whose life intersects with the others in unexpected ways.
Together, the three women uncover dangerous truths about Gilead and its inner workings. Agnes and Daisy attempt to penetrate Canada’s defenses, while Aunt Lydia—still embedded in Gilead as an Aunt—secretly aids the resistance. Though once a loyal enforcer, Lydia becomes a key informant, using her position as the perfect cover.
The show is structured around a manuscript written by Aunt Lydia, interwoven with testimonies from the other two women—likely Agnes and Daisy. Aunt Lydia is expected to serve as the series’ narrator, echoing the storytelling style of June in The Handmaid’s Tale, whose own manuscript was revealed in the final episode as the basis of her story.
Does It Cover The Fall of Gilead?
In short, The Testaments will indeed depict the fall of Gilead, focusing on how it crumbles and the vital roles three women—led by Aunt Lydia—play in its downfall. The series promises to reveal a different side of Gilead, exploring cracks from within.
As Margaret Atwood explained in a 2019 interview, while she couldn’t continue Offred’s story directly, she chose to tell the “beginning of the end” through the perspectives of three other women involved in Gilead’s fate. She pointed out that The Handmaid’s Tale hinted at Gilead’s eventual collapse, as shown by the future academic symposium—so The Testaments is her way of answering how such regimes fall apart.
By the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, Aunt Lydia had begun questioning Gilead’s morality. She grew disillusioned with the regime and, driven by fury and a protective instinct toward the girls under her care, made bold moves against the Commanders. In a pivotal moment, she even condemned the “wicked, Godless men” in power—her first open act of rebellion.
If the show stays true to the book, Lydia is secretly acting as a mole within Gilead, feeding information to the resistance. Meanwhile, Agnes, upon learning that she’s the biological daughter of a handmaid, begins to uncover her origins, eventually fleeing an arranged marriage and training to become an Aunt herself. The story also involves a now-grown baby Nicole—another major character twist from the novel—though it remains to be seen if the series will include her storyline.
Who Else Has Been Cast in The Testaments?
Joining Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti, and Lucy Halliday in The Testaments is Rowan Blanchard (Poker Face, Girl Meets World, Snowpiercer), who takes on the role of Shunammite—a privileged teenager from a high-ranking Gilead family. According to Deadline, her elevated status grants her notable influence and respect among her peers.
The rest of the cast features a mix of emerging talent and theater veterans, many with experience on Broadway and in Canadian television. This includes Mattea Conforti (Frozen on Broadway), Mabel Li (New Gold Mountain), Amy Seimetz (The Killing, Family Tree), Brad Alexander (Clifford the Big Red Dog), Zarrin Darnell-Martin (Ginny & Georgia), Eva Foote (Murdoch Mysteries), Isolde Ardies (Wayward), Shechinah Mpumlwana (Lyla in the Loop), Birva Pandya (The Love Club, The Umbrella Academy), and Kira Guloien (Robyn Hood).
While Elisabeth Moss has not been confirmed to reprise her role as June, she remains involved behind the scenes as an executive producer alongside Bruce Miller and Warren Littlefield. The series will launch with its first three episodes directed by Mike Barber.
Where Do All The Main Characters End Up in The Handmaid’s Tale?
By the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead has been driven out of Boston, but the regime still holds power in other parts of the U.S., with commanders scrambling to relocate and expand their grip. June, while proud of the progress made, remains committed to the ongoing fight for freedom.
In the second-to-last episode, both Nick (Max Minghella) and Commander Wharton (Josh Charles) are killed in a plane explosion orchestrated by Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), who sacrifices himself for the resistance.
Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), now essentially stateless and without official documentation, is forced to live in makeshift shelters with her infant son, Noah. Although Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger) is trying to help her secure a solution, she remains in limbo. In a powerful moment, Serena offers a heartfelt apology to June, who forgives her. As she sits in a crowded church among fellow refugees, Serena finds peace in motherhood—realizing that Noah is all she truly needs, even if her future remains uncertain.
In a defining moment of her redemption arc, Aunt Lydia arrives at night with Naomi (Ever Carradine) to reunite Janine (Madeline Brewer) and her daughter Charlotte with June and Tuello. It’s a final act of compassion from Lydia, signaling her quiet shift toward resisting Gilead from within.
June and Luke (O-T Fagbenle) are still separated from their daughter, Hannah, who has been relocated to Washington with her adoptive family. Although June is now closer to her, she and Luke part ways to pursue their own missions within the resistance, promising one day to reunite with Hannah. However, The Testaments suggests this reunion may not happen for several years—if at all.
The series ends with June beginning to write her story, encouraged by both Luke and her late mother to return to her roots as a writer. Her manuscript—chronicling her pain, perseverance, and refusal to give up—is implied to be the source of the voiceover that has guided viewers through all six seasons.
As The Testaments picks up 4 to 5 years later and includes Hannah’s storyline, there’s still hope for closure. While Elisabeth Moss is not expected to reprise her role on screen, June’s legacy will likely continue through her writing—and possibly through the next generation.
