Latest news with #TheTestaments
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
The Testaments will still appeal to fans who never saw The Handmaid's Tale
The Testaments will be "open" to people who never watched The Handmaid's Tale. The hit show ended in May after six seasons, but the franchise is continuing with an adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 2019 sequel novel, which was officially announced six years ago. In an update on the Hulu series, Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich - who oversees ABC and Hulu Originals - told Deadline: "We're very happy with The Testaments. 'It's definitely a different view of that world, but I think will both will be satisfying to Handmaid's fans, but open it up to to new viewers as well.' While the upcoming series is also set in Gilead, the novel picks up after the events of The Handmaid's Tale. The series will follow three women - Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), Daisy (Lucy Halliday) and Agnes (Chase Infiniti), who is the daughter of Elisabeth Moss' daughter June - as they uncover the truth about Gilead, and those rebelling against it. Moss will be back in a behind the scenes role as executive producer, it's not yet known if she'll reprise her role as June on screen. Meanwhile, Erwich insisted Disney are "very proud" of Handmaid's Tale, despite the show only getting one Primetime Emmy Awards nomination this year. Cherry Jones - who won an Emmy for her recurring role of Holly Maddox in 2019 - is on the 2025 shortlist for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series, but the programme didn't get the nod in any other categories. Erwich said: 'The Handmaid's Tale is judged by the audience's reaction to the final season, which was overwhelmingly excited, gratified, satisfied. 'It's a show we're very proud of. It was the first streaming show ever to win Best Drama, it will be attached to that achievement forever and really defined Hulu, defined a generation of viewers. "So everything beyond that, quite frankly, is gravy. This was a really good year for Handmaid's. We're very happy of the way it sailed off, bittersweet as it is.'
Elle
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
5 'The Handmaid's Tale' Plot Points That Cleverly Foreshadowed Sequel, 'The Testaments'
* This article contains spoilers. At the very minimum, fans of The Handmaid's Tale will have to wait at least a year until The Testaments, plays out on their TV screens. As the sequel to the series and Margaret Atwood's novel, it is expected that the upcoming TV series will answer and resolve a number of fans' burning questions and open-ended storylines. Although The Handmaid's Tale season finale ended on a number of cliffhangers, true fans of the series will appreciate that throughout the series, plenty of foreshadowing that was sprinkled into the show that has set the stage for The Testaments. From evolving character arcs to new generations taking on former legacies and the continued fight against the regime, The Handmaid's Tale has carefully been setting the scene for the new series, which we unpack below. While Aunt Lydia has been one of Gilead's most brutal enforcers and enablers for the vast majority of the show, she's had a change of heart since season five, which continued into season six. What began as small incidents of doubting herself, her values and easing up on the Handmaids, has turned into a full blown change of sides (even if it was momentary) in the eighth episode, Exodus, when she let the girls leave the Red Centre to flee to complete the Mayday mission and kill the Commanders. As such, it comes as no surprise that The Testaments will see this continued change of heart. The sequel will see her embark on a more a present in bringing Gilead down from the inside. She does this through working for Mayday as a mole, she feeds them vital information regarding Gilead, which is then leaked to correspondents in Canada. The season finale angered fans for many reasons, with one of the central gripes being that June and her daughter Hannah were never able to reunite for good. As such, given that June was the central character in The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments will see her daughter, Hannah (Agnes MacKenzie), living in Gilead as a young woman who is initially unaware of her true identity. The sequel is set to continue to tease her and June's reunion, and could possibly see Hannah follow in her biological mother's footsteps and begin to fight against Gilead. If you've gotten through the entirety of The Handmaid's Tale, you'll know by now that the writers like to let fans believe that certain characters are dead. For example, many fans thought that Emily was dead after not appearing in the series for multiple seasons, however, her character made a return in the final season. In episode nine, it is assumed that Nick (Max Minghella) dies in a plane explosion, alongside other Gileadean Commanders. As this occurred in the second last episode, we'd understand if you thought that there was no reason to fake his death, however, as his character is written into The Testaments novel, he could appear in the series, Now that we know that Mayday was not successful in taking down Gilead by The Handmaid's Tale ending, it's clear that the mission will continue on, and become a central plot point in The Testaments. At the beginning of the series Luke was more concerned with rescuing his daughter Hannah, then eventually began to put all his efforts into the fight against Gilead, so much so, that he is now one of the group's most established leaders. Similar to Nick, Luke is written into the novel, meaning that there is every reason for his character to appear in the series, as a main proponent to undermining of Gilead. The escape of June and Nick's baby, Nicole, to Canada was undoubtedly a monumental moment for both the regime and Mayday. Her escape marked a sign of hope for those wishing to be freed from Gilead, as well as the groups's continued fight in The Testaments. Now living in Canada with adoptive parents and completely unaware of her true identity, Nicole's natural interest in human rights clearly derives from her roots. 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.
Elle
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Emily Makes a Long-Awaited Return in 'The Handmaid's Tale' Series Finale
Spoilers below. The Handmaid's Tale has put us through the wringer throughout its final season (and the whole series, really), but luckily, not all of the surprises have been brutal. In this week's season 6 finale—the show's final episode—June (Elisabeth Moss) and viewers at home were treated to Emily's (Alexis Bledel) shocking but welcome return. The character, who was introduced in the show's first season, was written off after season 4 when Bledel stepped away from the series. In season 5, Emily's wife, Sylvia (Clea DuVall), tells June that Emily returned to Gilead on a personal mission to seek revenge and find Aunt Lydia. Since then, she's been missing in action, until this week's finale scene, where Emily and June reunite and take a walk together in a freed Boston. 'It was an immediate yes,' Bledel told The Hollywood Reporter of returning to Handmaid's for the finale. 'It felt right to bring closure to Emily's journey and offer the audience a sense of completion. Bruce put together such a kind and talented group, and so many of the original crew were still there in season six. The production runs like a well-oiled machine — everyone brings their best. I'm excited to see what they create in [sequel series] The Testaments.' Bledel added, 'I hope viewers take away to keep hope alive when things seem impossible. Even if it seems like seeds you plant couldn't possibly grow, plant seeds of hope anyway. You never know; they might find a way.' The actress announced her departure from The Handmaid's Tale in May 2022, ahead of the season 5 premiere. 'After much thought, I felt I had to step away from 'The Handmaid's Tale' at this time,' she told Variety in a statement. 'I am forever grateful to Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.' At the time, Moss told Entertainment Tonight that Bledel's exit 'wasn't the easiest thing in the world to handle, I'll be honest with you, because she's such a great, fantastic part of the show. But I do think that it was handled in a really good way.' Years later, the star, director, and executive producer opened up about bringing Bledel—and Emily—back to Handmaid's for its emotional conclusion. 'Bruce talked to me about bringing her back a while ago, before there was even an outline or script,' Moss told THR. 'I think I said to him at the time, 'You realize now that you've told me that, we have to do it.' It's not the easiest thing in the world to call an actor and be like, 'Can you come back for this one episode?' They're busy. But I was like, 'She has to do it.' I get very passionate about these things! And she wanted to do it from the beginning. She didn't need convincing at all. My first official scene on day one [on set] was with Alexis. So it meant a lot to get to work with her again.' That surprise cameo meant a lot to fans, too. 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. Erica Gonzales is the Deputy Editor, Culture at where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
Elle
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6, Episode 10 Finale Explained: June's Fight Continues
Spoilers below. It might be the last episode of The Handmaid's Tale, but June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and the Mayday resistance's war against Gilead is far from over. The penultimate episode ended with the deaths of Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitfield), Nick Blaine (Max Minghella), Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), and the rest of Boston's influential leaders, whose plane blew up after taking off. Now, Boston is free. 'Praise fucking be,' says June. However, Gilead still stands, and America needs to be taken back state by state. Not to mention that June's daughter, Hannah, is still living under the control of Commander MacKenzie. There is the forthcoming adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 2019 follow-up novel, The Testaments, to consider, as it is currently in production with Ann Dowd reprising her role as Aunt Lydia. I won't spoil other details from the novel, but knowing that a sequel is in the works ensures that book readers are more than prepared for developments that won't happen. But there are plenty of other threads to tie up, including the fate of Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), Janine (Madeline Brewer), and the surprising return of Alexis Bledel as Emily. Now, June must decide what to do next as The Handmaid's Tale takes one last ride. Moss directs this concluding episode, proving once again that she has a strong creative eye while delivering an equally strong lead performance. After Lawrence's final explosive act, Gilead held onto Boston for 19 days of fighting before pulling out altogether. If, like me, you kept thinking (or hoping) that maybe Nick pulled a Rachel Green in the Friends series finale and somehow got off the plane, then June's memories of Nick followed by the image of him boarding the death flight confirm that he is gone. All of Boston's commanders are dead, and June's voiceover notes that 'God always requires a sacrifice.' Boston needs a lot of work to get it back to where it was, including turning the power back on and opening Logan airport so people like June's mother, Holly (Cherry Jones), can reunite with their families. Luke (O-T Fagbenle) is an integral part of this crew, focusing on getting the city up and running before moving on to the next target. The Boston Globe building (where June hid in season 2) is now a base of operations for the Americans, with Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger) continuing his leadership role. He tells June that Hannah's commander is getting reassigned from Colorado to Washington, DC, meaning she will be 2,000 miles closer. They are still trying to find out where Janine is, but they know she is still trapped in Gilead, and Aunt Lydia is assisting with this search. Serena congratulates June on her victory, which is only possible thanks to Serena providing the flight details. Serena quotes J. Robert Oppenheimer ('I am become Death, destroyer of worlds'), reflecting that she has helped Boston fall twice now. Serena hits a nerve when she gives her condolences about Nick. June is still raw about what happened at Jezebel's and says that her former lover 'reaped what he sowed. He led a violent and dishonest life.' Serena counters this, remarking that if Nick ever thought he had a real choice, then he would've chosen June. Serena also mentions her lack of options (again, because of her own making) and can't get a passport for Canada or the EU, so she is stuck in citizenship purgatory. Serena says she is 'nobody,' but June reminds her that she is Noah's mother. The future is uncertain as Serena and Noah must journey to a refugee camp. Given how many times Serena and June have parted over the seasons, it might be hard to imagine how this farewell will differ. But for once, Serena admits to the horrors she enacted without adding the caveat that June treated her poorly too. June doesn't let her off easy because Serena should be ashamed of everything she has contributed to Gilead. However, June can finally offer the unimaginable: her forgiveness. Moss and Strahovski have gone toe-to-toe throughout these past six seasons, and both women have deftly portrayed each brushstroke of this complex relationship. This emotional conclusion is no different. Perhaps the finale's biggest surprise is Bledel's return, as her departure before the start of season 5 was unexpected. Her character, Emily, was full of rage as she tried to deal with the trauma of the mental and physical torture she suffered in Gilead. Unable to return to civilian life, Emily went back to Gilead to help bring it down from the inside. June is astonished at seeing her friend ('My fucking God' is the appropriate response) in this incredibly welcome twist. It is a full circle moment as the pair takes a walk to catch up by the wall that was a looming sight of death. The bodies of Gilead Guardians now hang from this symbolic landmark. June tells Emily that Hannah is still inside Gilead, and it feels impossible to get her back. Emily reminds June of everything they have achieved and survived against the odds, and that she is considering adjusting her concept of impossible. The reunion is a lovely reminder of their bond, which is followed by a dream sequence of a world where the handmaids and Rita (Amanda Brugel) had crossed paths if Gilead had never existed. June pictures hanging out with Moira (Samira Wiley), Emily, Rita, Janine, Alma (Nina Kiri), and Brianna (Bahia Watson). It is a bittersweet and beautiful moment that makes me a little teary at seeing characters who died in season 4 (Alma and Brianna), Janine with both her eyes, and the kind of merriment that shouldn't seem out of the ordinary for these women. This glimpse of a life they never had is followed by June burning the red handmaid cloak. As the symbol of their oppression is set aflame, the lights in the city are turned back on. Power is restored in more ways than one. Throughout the finale, June has memories of Hannah before Gilead snatched her away, mirroring the pilot. June doesn't get reunited with her daughter, but she witnesses a similar miracle firsthand. June is awoken in the night to see a familiar face—Gilead has agreed to return Janine. But there's more: The recently widowed Naomi (Ever Carradine) relents and gives Charlotte (the name Janine chose) aback to her birth mother. I am unsure what caused this dramatic change of heart other than Lawrence's impact on her. Janine has been through physical and psychological torture; her path to recovery will be a long one. Like Serena, Lydia doesn't get a free pass for making a good choice amid the innumerable terrible ones, but June thanks Lydia for doing the right thing. 'Blessed is the woman who does not walk in stride with the wicked,' says June. It reminds Aunt Lydia to continue to fight for 'her girls' and not for the men who hold them prisoner. The airport is open, meaning June is reunited with her mother and youngest daughter, Holly. It is an emotional yet heavy moment, as June will have to leave soon to carry on the fight to get Hannah back and bring Gilead down. June assures her young daughter that her love will always find her. While everyone is sleeping, June asks her mother for a considerable favor: to look after Holly a little longer. Holly Sr. worries about June's safety, to which June counters that they are unsafe in a world with Gilead. The totalitarian country needs to be broken, not beaten. Holly thinks June should write her experiences down in a book that will spread the anti-Gilead message and tell Holly Jr. what her mother has been doing. June worries that it will make a bleak tale of violence and fear; Holly counters that it is a story about not giving up. Some people might never find their babies, and this book will be for them (as well as June's two daughters). Later, Luke makes a similar suggestion about June writing down her escape story. It wasn't all horrors along the way as she had people who helped and loved her, like Janine, Emily, Lawrence, and even Nick. Yes, Luke mentions Nick because they are all worth remembering. June apologizes for underestimating Luke, who is demonstrating independence as he forges a Mayday leadership role. The people they were before no longer exist; and while their marriage is over in a traditional sense, they will continue to look for Hannah and meet each other wherever this journey takes them. Serena is making the best of her situation in the refugee center by shifting her focus to motherhood. It was the one thing she hoped for, and that is enough. Or at least, it is enough for now. Will we see Serena in The Testaments? It is unclear, but the door is left open for her return. Meanwhile, June returns to where this story began. Tuello gave June a pass to enter her old neighborhood, where the old Waterford house is. The main building is derelict after the fire in the season 3 premiere, and Nick's apartment above the garage is untouched. June slowly makes her way up the burned staircase to her former bedroom, and it is eerie being back in this familiar space. This sequence is a full circle moment back to the pilot, with June pulling out a dictaphone to recall her experience. The lines match June's narration from the pilot episode, suggesting that everything we have watched and the thoughts we have heard are from June's book. We know this tale is coming to a close, but with the forthcoming Testaments adaptation, this compelling story has not reached its conclusion. Nevertheless, Moss makes her mark on this definitive role, staring down the barrel of the camera as she holds a defiant gaze that offers hope in the darkness. 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. Emma Fraser is a freelance culture writer with a focus on TV, movies, and costume design. You can find her talking about all of these things on Twitter.
Elle
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
6 Books 'The Handmaid's Tale' Fans Will Love - Your Dystopian Summer Reading List, Sorted
The end of The Handmaid's Tale is almost upon us. The hit Hulu adaptation, which is now in its sixth and final series, of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel foreshadowed much of the tumult that has unfolded in the world today. The series, which premiered in 2017, drew inspiration from Atwood's story but creators of the show extended the novel past its intended lifecycle to create the premise for the series. The result is a show that has stunned, shocked and seriously earned its stripes among its now-adoring legion of fans. While The Handmaid's Tale might be drawing to a close (a confirmed adaptation of Atwood's sequel The Testaments is, thankfully, now in development), there are plenty more novels that may well scratch that dystopian Atwood-esque itch; here are just a few of them. In Naomi Alderman's seminal novel The Power, women around the world develop the ability to generate electric shocks—giving them a physical power over men. Alderman flips the power dynamics at play in The Handmaid's Tale on their heads, asking what society might look like if gender roles were reversed. Set in a near-future America ravaged by climate disaster and societal collapse, this novel follows a young woman who creates a new spiritual movement. Like Atwood, Butler explores gender, race, faith, and power in a dystopian context, but through a more grassroots survivalist lens. Set in an authoritarian regime similar to that that exists in Gilead where women are limited to speaking 100 words per day, language becomes a tool of control. This dystopian thriller echoes The Handmaid's Tale in its portrayal of state-sanctioned gender repression and the fight to reclaim autonomy. Not only a sequel but also a spiritual successor to The Handmaid's Tale, this novel revisits Gilead 15 years later from the perspective of three different women. It answers lingering questions and deepens the political and emotional complexity of Atwood's original 1985 novel. More surreal than traditional dystopia, this experimental novel follows a woman born with her stomach twisted into a literal knot, living in a world where female suffering is normalised. It's a powerful allegory for bodily autonomy, beauty standards, and inherited pain. While less overtly feminist than The Handmaid's Tale, this quietly haunting novel explores the dehumanisation of a group of children raised for a chilling purpose. It shares The Handmaid's Tale's themes of systemic control, resignation, and the search for meaning within a dystopian framework. Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years' worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.
