Everything to Know About The Testaments, The Handmaid's Tale Sequel Spin-Off

The Handmaid's Tale has been told, and whether you liked the ending or not, that's all June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) wrote on the subject of Gilead, Mayday, and the eventual fall of the misogynistic regime in Boston. But as anyone who read author Margaret Atwood's version of events knows, this isn't where the overall story ends. 

In 2019, Atwood released the novel The Testaments, an Aunt Lydia-based follow-up to her 1985 tome The Handmaid's Tale. In it, she outlined the fall of Gilead while updating fans on some of the characters featured in the first book and, as it turns out, the show. Now, with the Hulu series officially wrapped, show creator Bruce Miller is turning his attention to a TV version of The Testaments.

"We tried not to make big decisions in the final season of The Handmaid's Tale that we would have to deal with in The Testaments in a way that might restrict the storytelling," Miller told TV Guide of ending one series and transitioning into the sequel. "We followed Margaret Atwood, who was a very careful storyteller, and it led us a little more naturally into The Testaments."

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Whether you're ready to join the resistance or are looking for more details to make sense of that open-ended finale, keep scrolling for more details on the spinoff and what to expect next.

When does The Testaments come out?

Hulu has yet to confirm a specific release date for the premiere of The Testaments, but the streamer has confirmed it will premiere in April 2026. 

The Testaments first look

Hulu hasn't yet dropped a proper teaser for the new series, but we do have eight stills that give us an idea for what the vibe will be — and, well, it seems pretty familiar. 

The Testaments Season 1 First Look

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What is The Testaments about?

The Testaments book picks up 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale. It's divided into three stories: Aunt Lydia's and those of two young women, Agnes and Daisy. Agnes lives in Gilead, while Daisy lives in Canada. Here's the official synopsis from Hulu:

"For these young women, growing up in Gilead is all they have ever known, having no tangible memories of the outside world prior to their indoctrination into this life… Facing the prospect of being married off and living a life of servitude, they will be forced to search for allies, both new and old, to help in their fight for freedom and the life they deserve."

If the names sound familiar, they should. Agnes is, of course, Hannah — June's daughter who was ripped from her when Gilead took over. And Daisy is Nichole, the daughter June had with Luke.

"It's a look at the lives of these young women and Hannah and her friends, who were at the very top of the heap, and about to be married, whereas June was at the bottom of the heap," Miller told TV Guide. "It's all these wonderful things and all these horrible things. If you're in Gilead, a lesson that Agnes, or, excuse me, Hannah, will learn is that whether you're on the top or the bottom, it's difficult to be a woman in Gilead and it's difficult to live in a world that doesn't respect them."

Who stars in The Testaments?

Ann Dowd reprises her role as Aunt Lydia. If the book is any indication, we will learn more about the character's backstory, including her job as a lawyer and how she became an Aunt. 

Chase Infiniti (Presumed Innocent, One Battle After Another) has landed the role of Agnes, while Lucy Halliday plays Daisy.

Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World, TNT's Snowpiercer) has been cast as Shunammite, a foe of Agnes' who believes in Gilead and aspires for power. Mattea Conforti plays Becka, one of Agnes's best friends and a key character later in the book.

Other cast members and character descriptions include:

• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, who returns from The Handmaid's Tale
• Chase Infiniti as Agnes, previously known as Hannah, June's daughter
• Lucy Halliday as Daisy, previously known as Nichole, June and Luke's daughter
• Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala, the new Aunt Lydia. It's unclear whether she'll also wield a cattle prod.
• Amy Seimetz as Paula, Agnes' (potentially) evil stepmother
• Brad Alexander as Garth, an important Commander who cares too much for those in his care
• Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Aunt Gabbana, a marriage consultant and Aunt Lydia's right-hand woman
• Eva Foote as Aunt Estee, the youngest and most compassionate of the Aunts
• Isolde Ardies as Hulda, one of Agnes' classmates and friends
• Shechinah Mpumlwana as Jehosheba, the daughter of a high-ranking official who feels the pressure of securing a high-status marriage
• Birva Pandya as Miriam, a young girl in Gilead
• Kira Guloien as Rosa, a caring Martha who supports Agnes in her household

Will any other characters from The Handmaid's Tale appear in The Testaments?

So far, Dowd is the only actor who is officially confirmed to be returning, but never say never. After all, fans are still eager to see what happens to June and are craving her reunion with Hannah. Plus, Elisabeth Moss is involved with the series in an executive producer capacity. Considering that Moss also directed several episodes of The Handmaid's Tale, we shouldn't be surprised if she also directs an episode or two of The Testaments. 

Luke (O-T Fagbenle) is also alive in The Testaments book, but he's not a central figure. It's also unknown whether he will appear in the TV series. 

Do you need to watch The Handmaid's Tale to watch The Testaments?

At this point in production, it's unclear whether you'll need to have watched the original series to enjoy the sequel. Our best guess is no, but if you want to fully understand all of the potential Easter eggs and callbacks, not to mention the overall tone of the series, it's definitely worth watching the full six seasons of The Handmaid's Tale. 

Will The Testaments also mirror real life?

One thing The Handmaid's Tale became known for was its amazing ability to predict real-world events. The red cloaks became a symbol of resistance for women everywhere during difficult political times. The writers of The Handmaid's Tale aren't fortune tellers, though. As Atwood did in the novel, they based every story off of real-world events that had happened or were happening in some part of the world. Then, they wrote their stories and developed their characters from that. 

"We're approaching this exactly the same way we approached Handmaid's," Miller said. "We live in a time where young women are hearing a lot about what they can't do and what they're not allowed to do, and what rights they don't have. I like to be working on a series that shows that even women who are oppressed, especially young women, there are lots of things they can do. We're showing what they can do, what the possibilities are, and what the potential of these incredible young women is. I mean, there's nothing more powerful in the world than a 14-year-old girl."

Where is The Testaments filming?

Like The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments is filming in and around Toronto, Canada. Production began in April. 

How to watch The Handmaid's Tale