'Handmaid's Tale' Fans, Hulu Just Gave Us a Teaser and a Premiere Date
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While filming season 4 was underway, season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale was officially greenlit. Since the series premiered on Hulu in 2017, the futuristic dystopian drama has given fans a glimpse into the terrifying Republic of Gilead.
Whether you’re caught up on all four seasons or you’re only just diving into the show after reading Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel, you're probably curious about what's to come in season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale. Keep on reading for all the key details.
When will The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 premiere on Hulu?
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will premiere on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 on Hulu with two episodes. After that, fans can expect new episodes will air every Wednesday. What's more, the show shared a teaser trailer in July.
Back in December, Hulu announced the fifth installment on social media with a video of the cast. While on the set of The Handmaid’s Tale, the stars of the hit series checked in with fans and shared the exciting news about the drama getting picked up for season 5.
What will The Handmaid's Tale season 5 be about?
In case the minute-long teaser got you thinking about what season 5 of The Handmaid's Tale could entail, Hulu revealed a brief description on the show's official YouTube page. Judging from the official statement, things are about to get a lot tougher for June (Elisabeth Moss).
"In season 5, June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford while struggling to redefine her identity and purpose," the teaser video caption reads. "The widowed Serena attempts to raise her profile in Toronto as Gilead’s influence creeps into Canada. Commander Lawrence works with Aunt Lydia as he tries to reform Gilead and rise in power. June, Luke, and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah."
That's a lot to unpack. And if that's not enough, we also have the first official images from the new season, which you can check out here:
Who is in the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale season 5?
Since its first season, The Handmaid’s Tale has featured a stellar cast of characters. As of right now, it sounds like the entire main cast will return for season 5:
Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
Max Minghella as Commander Nick Blaine
Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
Samira Wiley as Moira
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
Madeline Brewer as Janine
Amanda Brugel as Rita
In addition, The Handmaid's Tale will have a few new characters on the show's roster. New Amsterdam actress Genevieve Angelson will make her mark as Mrs. Wheeler, a superfan of Serena's and one of the reasons behind Gilead's popularity in Toronto.
This news comes after the announcement that Alexis Bledel will not be returning as Dr. Emily Malek Ph.D, a role she's won an Emmy for.
"After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time," she revealed in May. "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."
Is season 5 the last season of The Handmaid's Tale?
At the moment, we're not entirely sure. But in an August 2021 interview with Deadline, creator Bruce Miller said that he is "never looking to end it."
"I work with a group of very undifficult people; we have a lovely group of writers, a spectacular group of actors and visiting directors and our crew. What they did this year was amazing," he said to the outlet.
That said, he did also say that he knows what the end is. "I’m not going to overstay my welcome but I’m also not going to rush off if I don’t have to because as long as I am writing for Elisabeth Moss, you know, it really doesn’t get much better."
How can I watch and stream The Handmaid’s Tale?
You can watch (or rewatch!) seasons 1 through 4 of The Handmaid’s Tale exclusively on Hulu. If you’re streaming the show on your laptop, you can head over to the Hulu website. Alternatively, you can catch all three seasons via the iPhone or Android apps. First time users can sign up for a month-long free trial. After the trial expires, you can keep using the service for as low as $6.99 per month.
Should I read The Handmaid’s Tale book while waiting for season 5?
If you've ever felt lost while watching the show (which is understandable, since viewers are dropped into the middle of the chaos in the very first episode), the book The Handmaid's Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, gives much more background on how Gilead came to be.
After reading The Handmaid’s Tale novel, you can dive into the author's sequel, The Testaments. Set more than 15 years after the original book, Gilead is still a strict society but it’s starting to implode. The Testaments tells the story of three women whose lives are brought together for a greater cause.
In September 2019, Hulu and MGM confirmed the rights to the sequel and began discussions with series creator/showrunner Bruce about developing the book into its own TV series as “an important extension” to The Handmaid’s Tale. In other words, it'll be good to know where the story might be headed next — unless, of course, you can't stand spoilers.
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