Hulu is set to expand its acclaimed series adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale with the spinoff titled The Testaments. This new series will feature familiar faces alongside new characters, diving deeper into the dystopian universe created by Margaret Atwood. The original series premiered in 2017 and quickly garnered critical acclaim for its portrayal of a totalitarian regime that assigns women to bear children due to low fertility rates.
The spinoff will see Ann Dowd reprise her role as Aunt Lydia, a character central to the resistance against Gilead. Following the announcement of the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale in 2022, creator Bruce Miller transitioned to work on The Testaments, while Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang took charge of the original series. Miller emphasized that the spinoff will not follow the original storyline precisely but will continue to explore the complexities of Gilead’s regime.
The Testaments, set 15 years after the events of the original show, will be narrated by Aunt Lydia. The series will introduce new characters such as Agnes, a former resident of Gilead, and Daisy, a Canadian teenager. Together, they will engage in covert operations to smuggle information about Gilead’s oppressive regime. In the narrative, Agnes and Daisy will pose as “Pearl Girls” to infiltrate Canada, with Aunt Lydia providing critical intelligence from within Gilead.
Atwood, speaking at a press event in 2019, expressed her interest in exploring the decline of authoritarian regimes. “I could continue with three other people concerned in these events and tell the story of the beginning of the end, because we know from The Handmaid’s Tale that Gilead vanishes,” she stated. She indicated that the new series will feature fresh costume designs, aligning with the thematic elements of identity and social roles.
As the cast of The Testaments takes shape, fans can look forward to returning characters and new faces. Here is a breakdown of the main cast members and their roles:
Key Cast Members of The Testaments
Ann Dowd will continue her pivotal role as Aunt Lydia, who is instrumental in orchestrating Gilead’s internal struggles.
Chase Infiniti plays Agnes, June’s daughter, who was raised in Gilead and has now joined the resistance movement.
Lucy Halliday portrays Daisy, a Canadian teenager whose life drastically changes as she becomes a key player in dismantling Gilead.
Rowan Blanchard, known for her role in Girl Meets World, takes on the character of Shunammite, a privileged girl from Gilead whose fate intertwines with Agnes and Daisy’s.
Mattea Conforti plays Becka, described as a kind but shy girl from a lower-class background who becomes a valuable ally in the resistance.
Mabel Li is cast as Aunt Vidala, a powerful fundamentalist aunt competing for authority within the Gilead hierarchy.
Finally, Amy Seimetz will portray Paula, Agnes’ strict stepmother, adding another layer of complexity to Agnes’ backstory.
With its rich narrative potential and a talented ensemble, The Testaments promises to build on the legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale while exploring new dimensions of its dystopian world. Fans eagerly anticipate the series, which is expected to deepen the exploration of themes related to power, resistance, and identity within a repressive society.
