The Handmaid’s Tale: The Testaments – Character Descriptions, Elizabeth Moss’s Return, and more Revealed
The world of Gilead is expanding once again. With the first three episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale season six now streaming, Hulu has officially greenlit its highly anticipated spinoff The Testaments. Based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel, the new series will explore a Gilead fifteen years after the original story, introducing a new generation of women born and raised under the regime.
From returning characters and exciting new cast additions to Elisabeth Moss’s behind-the-scenes role and a powerful new storyline, here's everything we know so far about The Testaments.
Release date & Production Status
Hulu officially ordered The Testaments to series, with production beginning on April 7, 2025, in Toronto. Although a premiere date has yet to be confirmed, an early 2026 release is likely, especially with filming now underway.
Bruce Miller, former Handmaid's Tale showrunner, has stepped away from the original series to focus on The Testaments, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to continuing the story of Gilead.
The Story: A new Generation Rises in Gilead
Set more than 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments follows the perspectives of three women—Aunt Lydia, Agnes Jemima, and Daisy (aka Baby Nicole)—as they navigate a world entrenched in patriarchal oppression.
The novel (and the upcoming series) reveals that Aunt Lydia has secretly been working with the resistance group Mayday to bring down the regime from within. Meanwhile, Agnes and Daisy, two young women from vastly different upbringings, must uncover their connections to June Osborne and embrace their roles in the rebellion against Gilead.
The synopsis of the show is, "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."
Returning and new Characters
Several major characters from The Handmaid's Tale will return, while The Testaments also introduces a fresh ensemble of Aunts, Commanders, and young women struggling to find their place in Gilead.
Returning Characters:
- Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, a stern enforcer whose arc transforms into one of subversion and espionage.
- Chase Infiniti plays Agnes, raised within Gilead, who eventually becomes Aunt Victoria.
- Lucy Halliday plays Daisy, also known as Nicole, who was smuggled out of Gilead and raised in Canada.
- Rowan Blanchard as Shunammite, a young woman deeply shaped by Gilead’s teachings.
- Mattea Conforti as Becka, a friend of Agnes with her own internal conflicts.
New Characters:
- Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala, a strict enforcer being groomed for leadership among the Aunts.
- Amy Seimetz as Paula, a woman whose recent marriage into power is disrupted by her new stepdaughter.
- Brad Alexander as Garth, a young Commander with a growing role in the lives of Gilead’s girls.
- Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Aunt Gabbana, the right-hand to Aunt Vidala and a zealous believer in Gilead’s rules.
- Eva Foote as Aunt Estee, a younger and more relatable Aunt whose kindness earns her admiration.
- Isolde Ardies as Hulda, a bright and naive girl full of hope for her future.
- Shechinah Mpumlwana as Jehosheba, a competitive classmate aiming for a powerful marriage.
- Birva Pandya as Miriam, struggling under the pressure of “marriage season.”
- Kira Guloien as Rosa, a Martha who serves as a loving maternal figure to Agnes.
Elisabeth Moss’s role – Will June Osborne Return?
While The Testaments won’t center on June Osborne, Elisabeth Moss will continue to influence the series as an executive producer. There is hope, however, that Moss may make a guest appearance, depending on June's fate in the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale. If June survives Gilead’s rebellion, she could reunite with her daughters—Agnes and Daisy—in flashbacks or in the present timeline, just as she did in the novel’s conclusion.
Even if her character is killed off, Moss’s presence could still be felt through recorded messages, similar to her season three communication with Luke. Either way, her legacy remains pivotal to the sequel.
Behind the Scenes: Creative team & Direction
The Testaments is spearheaded by showrunner Bruce Miller, who is also an executive producer alongside Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Mike Barker—who will also direct the first three episodes. Priscilla Poriand will serve as co-executive producer. The series is produced by MGM Television.
What to Expect from the Adaptation
Like its predecessor, The Testaments is expected to take creative liberties to align with the events of The Handmaid’s Tale series, which has already deviated in several areas from the books. With season six over, the writers have clearly laid the groundwork for Aunt Lydia’s transformation and the rise of Gilead’s new generation.
Themes of female oppression, rebellion, and resilience will remain central, but this time from the eyes of those who have never known life before Gilead—a chilling reminder of how regimes endure through indoctrination.
The Handmaid's Tale is now over, and The Testaments promises to carry the torch forward, offering new characters, unexpected alliances, and the potential to finally bring down the regime that’s haunted viewers for years.
Stay tuned as more updates about casting, trailers, and a release date continue to emerge.
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