“We're sad to announce that we're 100% committed to the cause. We're grateful to Hulu and MGM for allowing us to tell this story, which has remained as relevant as ever throughout its run. We're also in awe of our incredible fans for their unwavering support. Without them, we would never have gotten this far.”
The cast also released a statement alongside the announcement: “When we began this journey in Season 1, we no longer carried our sins with us. In Season 2, we reclaimed our names. In Season 3, we freed ourselves. In Season 4, we prayed together. In Season 5, you will discover that some sins can never be washed away.”
“And as for season six, which will be the sixth and final season, well, you'll just have to wait and see. We're so grateful for your support of the show over the years, and we'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you on his watch.”
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Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid's Tale. Hulu
Star Elisabeth Moss (June) said in an interview with Business Insider that season six is ​​”totally for the fans.”
“This is definitely for the viewers,” she added. “The people who have been following us for five seasons. We're kind of making this for them.”
But Miller isn't done writing Atwood yet.
According to Deadline, a sequel series based on her latest book, The Testaments, is “actively in development,” and is set six years after the events of THT.
But before we get there, there's still the final season of the current series to come – read on for all the info you need to know.
*Spoilers ahead for The Handmaid's Tale Season 5*
The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 Release Date Predictions: When will it air?
Ann Dowd in The Handmaid's Tale. Channel 4
After being delayed due to the SAG-AFRA writers strike, The Handmaid's Tale season 6 was postponed, but now has a release date confirmed.
In an interview with Deadline, Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, who oversees Hulu Originals content, confirmed that production on the sixth season is set to begin this summer (2024) and premiere in 2025.
The series will air on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK, and on Hulu in the US.
The Handmaid's Tale season 6 cast: Who's returning?
The following faces are expected to return in Season 6:
Elisabeth Moss (June Osborne), Yvonne Strahovski (Selina), Joy Waterford (Janine), Madeline Brewer (Aunt Lydia), O.T. Fagbenle (Luke), Max Minghella (Nick), Samira Wiley (Moira), Bradley Whitford (Commander Lawrence), Amanda Brugel (Rita)
Ever Carradine, who plays Naomi Putnam, the adoptive mother of Janine's child who was married to Commander Putnam before becoming Commander Lawrence's wife (and taking his name), also became a series series regular in the final season.
Emily (Alexis Bledel) has returned to Gilead seeking revenge for the violence perpetrated against her and all the women held captive by the regime, but will she be able to return?
“As far as we know, that character's journey wasn't over,” Miller told Entertainment Tonight, adding that the showrunner had “left the door open.”
McKenna Grace, who plays Commander Keith's young wife, Esther, also spoke to Screen Rant about her fears about her character's role in season six.
“I'm actually scared,” she said. “I have no idea what I'm going to be asked to do. I'm super motivated. No matter what they say, I'm super motivated. But I'm a little scared.”
“You never know what's going to happen on that show. You never know what's going to happen. I'm excited to see what Esther does this season.”
The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 synopsis: What's going to happen?
Moss told Business Insider that she knows how the series will end.
“I don't think I can say anything because I already know how it's going to end,” she said. “I'm scared I'll accidentally say the wrong thing. I'm too nervous.”
Regarding his expectations for the final season, Miller said: “I definitely want it to be a solid season, but we've seen other shows either succeed or fail, so we have to learn a lesson from that.”
“I just want every episode to be solid, so I want every scene to be solid. And that's all I'm thinking about. And if it doesn't feel like the final episode of the show, that's OK. The beginning of the show didn't feel like the beginning of the show either.”
The Handmaid's Tale. Channel 4
At the end of season 5, June and Serena met on a train bound for Vancouver, and presumably on a train bound for Hawaii, which begs the question of what will happen to their relationship in the next chapter: Will they be able to come together and, more importantly, defeat Gilead?
“When I was doing Serena's storyline, it seemed very logical given June's storyline that they would both end up in the same place,” Miller told The Hollywood Reporter. “They're both trying to escape Toronto in a crowded place. How many options do you have?”
“I knew Serena would be here before June got here. It felt like they were both running to the same place, not towards each other.”
But while June is now free, Luke is held captive after turning himself in to help her and Nicole, and his future is uncertain – will he be able to escape and rejoin June's efforts to overthrow the regime?
Nick also finds himself in hot water after his attack on Commander Lawrence, and his pregnant wife chooses to distance herself from him.
“[With] “The problem with Nick is that he's trying to stay out of trouble and now he can't. It's June who's dragging him back into trouble,” Miller told Entertainment Weekly.
“I think Nick and June's season is the most romantic so far because they're constantly trying to convince themselves that they don't need to be together, and at the end, they're completely unsuccessful and completely unsuccessful… but they're so in love that they can't think about anything else.”
Nick from The Handmaid's Tale. Hulu
And we can't forget Janine, who was taken away by Eyes and caused Aunt Lydia so much grief.
“Janine is awakening the June in her, so we'll see where that goes,” Miller told EW. “But being picked up by Eyes means a lot of things. Eyes has been hoping for a long time that Janine would be useful and fertile, and if she doesn't do that in the Red Centre, she'll be moved somewhere else. And Eyes isn't very polite about it.”
“But she could be dragged out in the middle of the road and shot. That's the kind of place it is.”
Is there a trailer for The Handmaid's Tale Season 6?
Not yet! A trailer will be released closer to the 2025 release date.
The Handmaid's Tale airs on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK. Sign up for your free 30-day trial of Prime Video now.
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