Bruce Miller, the creator of The Handmaid’s Tale, has shared some intriguing updates about what fans can expect from Gilead in the eagerly awaited sequel series, The Testaments.
The follow-up series is based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel, set 15 years after the original novel’s events. It will focus on Aunt Lydia (portrayed by Anne Dowd), whose life becomes intertwined with two other women.
June (Elisabeth Moss), the original protagonist of The Handmaid’s Tale, does not appear in the sequel, but she recently returned for the Hulu series’ sixth season.
However, her influence will be strongly felt in the follow-up, as Miller explained that key links to her story would drive The Testaments’ narrative.
“It’s about growing up Gilead. It feels like exactly the opposite world. These are…the most precious girls in Gilead,” he said. “And yet you start to realise they’re walking a plank as well, just like the Handmaids”, reports the Mirror US.
The Testaments will not only track June’s former adversary Lydia but also her daughter, Hannah (currently played by Jordana Blake), now known as Agnes and training to become a Wife.
“Hannah has to deal with the June inside of her [and] all of a sudden she starts to feel mighty, mighty, mighty rebellious,” Miller hinted.
Chase Infiniti will take over the role of Hannah/Agnes, while Lucy Halliday will play Daisy, the third main character uncovering the secrets of the resistance against Gilead.
June’s fate hangs in the balance as she is not expected to make a physical return in The Handmaid’s Tale season six, hinting at a possible tragic conclusion for her character.
However, her influence remains strong, particularly on Lydia, who, despite still being part of Gilead’s machinery, is now taking steps to shield the Wives from the kind of torment June endured.
In the upcoming sequel, The Testaments, Lydia’s role becomes even more pivotal as she joins the fight against the tyrannical regime.
Speaking to Deadline, showrunner Miller shared insights into Lydia’s journey: “It is very different for her this season, because she’s trying to expand her power. She’s trying to work her power in other places, places that are not just with the Handmaids, but the wider world.
“Lydia is trying to do a very difficult job well, and I think she realises over time that these girls are valuable on their own and is trying to kind of figure out a way to do her job that she’s said ‘I’m going to do,’ and also recognise the humanity of these girls that she can’t quite ignore.”
He wrapped up by pondering Lydia’s future: “What becomes someone like Lydia, who has not just desire to be in control, but confidence and actual competence in being in control? What happens to someone like that?
“Well, they don’t just sit by the wayside. They actually, if you tell them no and beat them up, they take your country.”
While fans are eager, the release date for The Testaments remains under wraps. However, with production kicking off in Toronto this month, expectations are high for a 2026 premiere.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 continues Tuesdays on Hulu in the US and will premiere Saturday, 3rd May on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK.
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