Latest news with #TheTestaments
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss says June 'isn't done' despite show ending
Elisabeth Moss says June Osborne's battle continues WARNING: This article contains spoilers from The Handmaid's Tale series finale Elisabeth Moss, the leading lady of The Handmaid's Tale, has revealed that her character June Osborne is not yet ready to stop fighting Gilead's oppressive regime despite the show wrapping up, reports the Mirror US. Since 2017, Moss has portrayed the resilient June, vowing to keep up the fight against the harsh rulers in a bid to rescue her daughter Hannah Bankole (played by Jordana Blake). In a recent chat, the star of Mad Men and Top of the Lake hinted: "It just doesn't feel like she's done yet." Echoing the ambiguous ending of Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, the TV adaptation aimed to leave viewers with an "incredibly vague cliffhanger ending that was infuriating". The final episode edged June closer to reuniting with Hannah, but the teenager remains caught in the clutches of Gilead. Moss reflected on her character's determination, stating: "I don't think she has a choice, and I think that's what she comes to realize: If she wants there to be a place for her daughters to be free, this is what she has to do". Speaking to Gold Derby, she added: "It's not preferred. It's not like she thinks this is a great idea. It's very, very complicated." While June's struggle appears far from over, The Handmaid's Tale itself has concluded, passing the torch to the follow-up series The Testaments. The programme is set to follow Atwood's 2019 sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, but it will take place five years after the series finale, not 15 as in the book. The book features three main characters: Aunt Lydia (portrayed by Ann Dowd), Daisy (Lucy Halliday) and Agnes (Chase Infiniti), whose lives are interconnected. June doesn't feature in The Testaments, however, the show might deviate and include a cameo from the character. Furthermore, there are likely to be allusions to June's ongoing struggle to reclaim her daughter, echoing Moss' sentiments about the continuous fight against Gilead. In a recent chat with Variety, The Testaments showrunner Bruce Miller stated that Nick and June will "certainly" be mentioned more in the show than in the book. He commented: "But I think where we are and what we're doing with the story, with a few slight differences, they are thinking more in the front of their minds, but characters are thinking more about the particular people who made the changes in the end of the last series. So I think that June is much more present." Moss will act as an executive producer on The Testaments, but it's still unknown if she'll reprise her role as June. However, Miller hinted that characters from The Handmaid's Tale could make appearances in The Testaments. "The first set of characters matter hugely to the second set of characters. So these stories are very tied together, and it's very much a continuation of this 'Handmaid's Tale' that we've seen. You're just following the daughter instead of the mother."
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss explains meaning behind Offred line
The Handmaid's Tale dovetailed neatly as the series ended Elisabeth Moss, the leading lady of The Handmaid's Tale, has shared her thoughts on the show's final moments and the hauntingly memorable last scene, reports the Mirror US. In a poignant full circle, the series concludes with June Osborne (portrayed by Moss) in the Waterfords' residence, echoing the very first episode's ending. June embarks on recording her narrative, a harrowing testament to Gilead's atrocities that have remained hidden from the world. The series signs off with the powerful line: "My name is Offred", a stark contrast to her declaration in the debut episode: "My name is June." Echoing the inaugural episode, June once more peers directly into the camera lens, offering a knowing smile. Moss, dissecting this pivotal moment in an interview with Gold Derby, explained: "Her mom points out she needs to tell it for her daughters. ... She has to go back to the beginning, and she has to tell the whole story, and it started as Offred." This act of reclaiming her handmaid identity was crucial for June to recount her experience truthfully. Moss, who also directed the finale, revealed a behind-the-scenes anecdote about the final line. She aimed to replicate the same tone used in the first season's voiceover. Yet, fate played its hand when Moss realised she had forgotten this detail just 10 minutes before filming the crucial scene. In a frantic rush, the star of Mad Men and Top of the Lake hastily purchased and downloaded the Hulu app on her phone to revisit the original scene. She replayed the sequence repeatedly and committed its rhythm to memory, remarking "it worked" and was "incredible" in enhancing her final scene's delivery. Reflecting on June's return to the Waterfords' abode, Elisabeth Moss shared that she "didn't have to think too much" about the setting because she intimately "felt all the things" her character experienced. "There had been so much that had happened in that room, and I was so happy to be back in a better place, and in a place where I was ready to bring this story to a close, at the same time that June is starting to tell it," Moss articulated. While The Handmaid's Tale has come to an end, the saga continues as The Testaments gears up for production with Bruce Miller, the original showrunner, at the helm of this forthcoming series. Moss remains connected to the fabric of the drama, taking on the role of executive producer, with the fate of June's appearance presently shrouded in mystery. The Testaments diverges from its predecessor, fixating on youthful characters navigating Gilead's oppressive regime even from the seemingly privileged echelons of society. Ann Dowd will revisit her role as Aunt Lydia, revealing that her character has been transformed by the Boston uprising as seen in The Handmaid's Tale. New talent leads the pack in the upcoming series, including Chase Inifinti and Lucy Halliday, who will step into the roles of Agnes/Hannah and Daisy/Nicole respectively.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How ‘The Handmaid's Tale' series finale sets up ‘The Testaments'
With the Emmy-winning adaptation of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale wrapping up the six-season arc of the revolutionary June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), fans can finally celebrate Boston's liberation from the authoritarian clutches of Gilead. It's been a harrowing journey for June since the show's 2017 premiere, and she can't entirely celebrate with her daughter Hannah still behind Gilead's borders. With Hulu hard at work on The Testaments, an adaptation of Atwood's 2019 sequel novel set years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, audiences will get a greater degree of resolution over the future of Hannah and the rest of the women under Gilead's thumb. Here's how The Handmaid's Tale's Season 6 resolution sets up for that highly anticipated follow-up. At the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale, the resistance group Mayday (in collaboration with the U.S. military) successfully killed remaining Gilead leaders in Boston, thanks to the sacrifice of Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford). Janine (Madeline Brewer) was reunited with her daughter Charlotte after being brought to a now-freed Boston by a fully reformed Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and her former mistress, Naomi Lawrence (Ever Carradine). June was shepherded to the reunion by the U.S. military, and witnessing it solidified her choice to continue the fight against Gilead. She hopes to make her way towards Colorado to free her oldest daughter, Hannah. The very final scenes see June return to the old Waterford home to write a book about her experiences in Gilead (the beginning page of Atwood's original novel). More from GoldDerby 'Death Becomes Her' costume designer Paul Tazewell on creating show's spectacular outfits: 'Theater-making is about the impossible' (exclusive images) Jamie Lee Curtis eyes historic back-to-back Emmy win as Comedy Guest Actress race heats up 'Étoile' creators on writing a show for 'genius' Luke Kirby Atwood's The Testaments novel takes place 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, though the Hulu adaptation will take place a mere four years later. It follows a new generation of young women raised within a Gilead that's been rocked, but not yet toppled, by that ending we saw in Season 6. In the novel, main character Aunt Lydia has remained an Aunt under Gilead's rule. Her hero turn still stands, and in the novel she feeds information to the United States while secretly completing a memoir that opposed Gilead's beliefs. Dowd will return as Aunt Lydia in The Testaments. An older Hannah (Chase Infiniti), living as Agnes, moves to become an Aunt (named Victoria) in order to escape an arranged marriage. Having forgotten her origins, she discovers her heritage as a revolutionary handmaid's daughter, and also discovers her secret half-sister, Nicole (also known as Daisy, played by Lucy Halliday). Lydia and the pair of sisters work to expose Gilead's darkest secrets. SEE The Handmaid's Tale star Elisabeth Moss on directing the series finale and June's new mission: 'She has to fight a different battle now' Besides Dowd and Infiniti, the cast also includes Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Mabel Li, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Isolde Ardies, Eva Foote, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. Moss will serve as an executive producer on The Testaments alongside Bruce Miller and Warren Littlefield, Mike Barker, who will direct its first three episodes, but she is not yet confirmed to return. June does appear in the novel, and the series could also take liberties to include her more or showcase her actions within the four years between the two series. Regarding expectations for June to pop up and take the fight to Colorado, Miller told Gold Derby, "The Testaments is so much about another group of characters in general. And although June has a big stake in it, part of the story is her impotence to do anything about it." He promises that "some of these people [from The Handmaid's Tale] will pop up again because, in addition to Lydia, there's a lot of people who play roles in this world that would brush up against the story of The Testaments." Hulu has yet to announce a premiere date. The show is currently in production. Best of GoldDerby 'Étoile' creators on writing a show for 'genius' Luke Kirby TV Visual Effects supervisor roundtable: 'Black Mirror,' 'The Boys,' 'The Wheel of Time' 'The Wheel of Time' VFX supervisor Andy Scrase: 'I always think of visual effects as the magic of filmmaking' Click here to read the full article.
Elle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
'I Can't Watch Certain Scenes' Elisabeth Moss Says Being A Parent Changed Her View Of 'The Handmaid's Tale'
For the past eight years, Elisabeth Moss has fronted The Handmaid's Tale as the titular handmaid, June Osbourne (Offred). 66 episodes later, the longstanding dystopian drama came to an end when the season six finale debuted on May 27, for US audiences (UK viewers will have to wait a while longer to reach the final episode). FIND OUT MORE AT ELLE COLLECTIVE Now Moss is finally parting ways with a character that she has spent the majority of her thirties playing - the Californian actor recently shared the valuable life lessons that she has learned from playing such a strong willed character. In an interview with Variety, Moss discussed how becoming a mother to her first child in 2024 altered her approach to taking on the role of June. 'I cannot believe the difference this final season [now being a mother], and I had no idea that was going to happen. I can't watch certain scenes. When a person used to come up to me and say, "I just had a baby, and I can't watch the show," I had a little judgment, like, "Oh, God, get over it." Now, I totally get it. There are concepts I can't think about; there are articles I can't read in the news.' Further into the interview, the actor discussed how it wasn't only being a parent that shaped her changing view of the show, but also that her move to being an executive producer and director has changed things Ultimately, Moss said, one of the biggest changes she has seen is her newfound appreciation for portraying characters on screen. 'I have more respect for acting than I did before,' she explained. 'When I first started directing, I was very much like, I'm going to be a visual person. The first thing I learned on my first episode is that the performance is the only thing that matters. I love acting so much, but I don't overthink it; frankly, I don't put a lot of thinking into it at all. It's very important to me, but it's not serious. So, realising that nothing mattered except the performance was a revelation for me.' While Moss may have made her exit as June in The Handmaid's Tale in what was a fairly bittersweet ending, all roads lead to her character's potential revival in the upcoming sequel, The Testaments, where viewers may see June continue to fight against the Gileadean regime. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Graziadaily
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Everything You Need To Know About The Handmaid's Tale Season Finale
It's been eight-years since The Handmaid's Tale first graced our screens, and introduced us to the world of Gilead. Now, after six incredible seasons the much-loved show has come to an emotional end. The TV series, which is an adaptation from a best-selling feminist book, Margaret Atwood's 1986 book of the same name, follows June, renamed Offred, as she navigates life in the totalitarian theocracy of Gilead, a former part of the United States. In Gilead, fertile women are forced into sex as Handmaids to have children for the elite. The show's finale this week has got everyone talking. While many loose ends are tied together and relationships are fixed, but there is one moment fans were hoping for that never truly materialised. June is not definitively reunited with her daughter Hannah. In an interview, Yahlin Chang, who took over as co-showrunner for Season 6, explained this was because of the planned sequel, The Testaments, which is currently in the works with Hulu. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Chang said: 'Our hands were tied, unfortunately, and we could not bring June and Hannah together because of 'The Testaments,' which was something that we really struggled with. I struggled with, speaking for myself, not giving people what they wanted or what I wanted.' The episode begins in the aftermath of episode nine, which saw Gilead's leadership destroyed and Massachusetts being freed. Next, the Mayday group focuses on liberating New York City. In the final episode of The Handmaid's Tale, we see June released from Gilead, wrapping up loose ends as she prepared to find her daughter. We see June and Luke decide to end their relationship, but they both vow to stay part of the resistance movement. June also says goodbye to Serena, who will go and live in a refugee camp with Noah, her baby son, with Serena admitting she is 'ashamed' of the torture that she put June through. June finally accepts Serena's apology. 'I forgive you, Serena,' she says. The episode ends with June revisiting her former home in old Waterford, where she first served as a handmaid. We see June start to write a book about her experiences, recording a tape recorder, with her reciting the first page of Margaret Atwood's novel. 'A chair. A table. A lamp. There's a window with white curtains, and the glass is shatterproof, but it isn't running away they're afraid of. A handmaid wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes. The ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge. Or a twisted sheet and a chandelier. I try not to think about those escapes. It's harder on ceremony days but thinking can hurt your chances. My name is Offred,' she said. Fans of the show don't have to be too disappointed it's coming to an end. The Testaments is Margaret Atwood's 2019 sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, and takes place over a decade after the original story. The show, which is currently in its production stage with Hulu, is described by the platform as 'a coming-of-age story that finds a new generation of young women in Gilead grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.' It will pick up more than 15 years after the events of "The Handmaid's Tale."' The show is set to document the journeys of Agnes and Hannah, June's daughter, and a fresh generation of young women. '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,' Hulu said about the series. '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.'
