Hulu Sets April 8 Premiere for The Testaments Handmaid’s Tale Sequel

Hulu has picked April 8, 2026, to start The Testaments, the new series that picks up from The Handmaid's Tale. The first three episodes will come out that day, and then one new episode each week after that. The show comes from the same team behind the first series and is based on Margaret Atwood's book of the same name. It tells the story of young women growing up in the strict world of Gilead.

Background

The Handmaid's Tale first aired on Hulu in 2017 and ran for five seasons until 2025. It drew millions of viewers with its look at a future where a group takes over the United States and turns it into Gilead, a place where women lose most rights. Women there serve men in set roles, like handmaids who bear children. The show won many awards and started talks about women's rights around the world.

Margaret Atwood wrote the original book in 1985. She followed it with The Testaments in 2019, which won the Booker Prize. The new book is set years after the first one. It follows three women: one who grew up in Gilead, one from outside, and one key figure from the first story. Hulu's first series ended its run last year, leaving fans wanting more about what happens next in that world.

Bruce Miller created The Handmaid's Tale for TV. In 2023, he left that show to work on The Testaments. Hulu gave the green light for the new series in April 2025. Production started soon after on April 7, 2025, and wrapped up by August 15 that year. The team kept many people from the original show, like executive producers Warren Littlefield and Elisabeth Moss.

Key Details

The Testaments takes place five years after the end of The Handmaid's Tale. It centers on teens who have known only Gilead their whole lives. They face a future of forced marriage and service to the regime. Two main young characters lead the story: Agnes and Daisy.

Cast and Characters

Chase Infiniti plays Agnes Mackenzie, also known as Hannah from the first series. She is at the top of Gilead's ranks but starts to see the dangers around her. She feels more rebellious as time goes on. Lucy Halliday is Daisy, a teen from Canada. She learns a dark secret about her family that ties her to Gilead.

Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia Clements. She runs a school for girls from Gilead's top families. Lydia trains them to be wives and keeps order with strict rules backed by religion. Over time, she questions if Gilead can be fixed or needs to end.

Other cast members include Rowan Blanchard as Shunammite, a teen from a powerful family with some pull among her friends. Mattea Conforti plays Becka. There are also roles for aunts and others like Amy Seimetz as Paula, Brad Alexander as Garth, Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Aunt Gabbana, Eva Foote as Aunt Estee, Kira Guloien as Rosa, Birva Pandya as Miriam, Shechinah Mpumlwana as Jehosheba, Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala, and Isolde Ardies as Hulda.

Mike Barker directs the first three episodes. He also executive produces. The full list of producers includes Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Priscilla Poriand as co-executive producer. MGM Television makes the show.

The series will air on Hulu in the US. Bundle subscribers get it on Hulu on Disney+. Outside the US, it goes to Disney+.

"The Testaments is a dramatic coming-of-age story set in Gilead." – Hulu press release

What This Means

Fans of The Handmaid's Tale have waited years for this next step. The original series built a huge following by showing life under Gilead's rules. It mixed personal stories with big questions about power and freedom. The Testaments shifts to a younger group. These girls know nothing else, so their fight starts from inside the system.

The timing fits as Hulu looks to keep strong shows in its lineup. The Handmaid's Tale was one of its biggest hits. A sequel could pull back old viewers and grab new ones, especially with the book's fans. April 8 falls on a Tuesday, a common day for big releases to build weekly buzz.

Bringing back Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia links the two shows. Her role grew over the years, from enforcer to someone with doubts. Viewers will watch how she shapes the next generation and if she changes the world she helped build.

Casting younger actors like Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday brings fresh faces. Infiniti's Agnes ties directly to June from the first series, giving long-time fans a personal stake. Daisy's story from outside Gilead shows how the regime reaches beyond borders.

The weekly drop after the first three episodes matches how The Handmaid's Tale worked. It keeps people talking each week and boosts social media chatter. With production done, the focus now turns to marketing. Hulu will likely share trailers and cast interviews soon to build excitement.

This series comes at a time when dystopian stories still draw crowds. They reflect real worries about rights and control. Atwood's books stay timely because they warn about what can happen when power shifts. The Testaments explores if change can come from within or if it needs outside help.

For the cast, it's a big chance. Ann Dowd has Emmy wins from the first show. Newcomers like Infiniti get to lead in a high-profile project. Directors and producers from the original bring experience to make sure the world feels real and tense.

Hulu plans to release the show globally through Disney+, so it will reach more countries fast. This setup worked for other hits and helps build a worldwide audience. The story's themes of youth fighting back could connect in many places.

Overall, The Testaments extends a story that has shaped TV for nearly a decade. It promises more looks inside Gilead while focusing on hope through young eyes.