Return to Gilead in ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ sequel, ‘The Testaments
Return to Gilead in ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ sequel, ‘The Testaments
Aunt Lydia is back, and a new generation is about to challenge Gilead starting Wednesday, April 8 on Hulu.
If you spent the better part of the last decade glued to “The Handmaid’s Tale” like my wife and me, you probably know that, unfortunately, that world isn’t finished yet. Hulu is heading back to Gilead with “The Testaments,” a sequel series based on Margaret Atwood’s follow-up novel. The new show jumps forward in time and focuses on a younger generation growing up inside the regime. And yes, one familiar character is returning: Ann Dowd is back as Aunt Lydia (yes!!!). Here’s everything you need to know before “The Testaments” arrives on Hulu.
How to watch ‘The Testaments’
- When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. ET
- TV: Hulu
- Stream: Watch with a 30-day free trial to Hulu.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘The Testaments’
When will ‘The Testaments’ come out?
“The Testaments” premieres Wednesday, April 8, with three episodes dropping on day one. After that, new episodes will roll out weekly. The series will stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. Season 1 will run for 10 episodes in total, so once the premiere hits, you can expect a weekly trip back to Gilead for the next seven weeks.
What is the complete release schedule for ‘The Testaments’?
| Date | Time (ET) | Episode | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, April 8 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 1: Series Premiere | Hulu |
| Wednesday, April 8 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 2 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, April 8 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 3 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, April 15 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 4 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, April 22 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 5 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, April 29 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 6 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, May 6 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 7 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, May 13 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 8 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, May 20 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 9 | Hulu |
| Wednesday, May 27 | 12:01 a.m. | Episode 10: Season Finale | Hulu |
Can you watch ‘The Testaments’ for free?
Yep, you can. Hulu currently offers a 30-day free trial, which means new subscribers could jump in and watch the premiere without paying if they time it right. After the trial ends, Hulu plans start at $12 per month with ads, or $19 per month if you want to watch without commercials.
Both plans include full access to every episode of “The Testaments” as it drops, along with access to “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Hulu
Hulu is a video streaming service that gives access to thousands of full seasons of exclusive series, hit movies, kids shows, and Hulu Originals like “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Watch the trailer for ‘The Testaments’
What is ‘The Testaments’ about?
“The Testaments” picks up about 15 years after the events of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Instead of following the same characters, the story zooms in on a younger generation growing up inside Gilead. And yeah, this is the only world most of them have ever known. The rules are strict, religion is baked into everything, and stepping out of line isn’t really an option.
The story mainly follows two teens, Agnes and Daisy. Agnes was raised inside Gilead and has basically grown up believing the system is just how things are supposed to work. Daisy is the opposite. She arrives from outside Gilead, which means she sees the whole place very differently. When the two girls end up at Aunt Lydia’s school for future wives, things start getting interesting. The more they spend time together, the more they start questioning what they’ve been told their whole lives. And once those questions start popping up, they begin uncovering secrets about Gilead and the resistance trying to bring it down.
And if you’re a “Handmaid’s Tale” fan, this is where things get really interesting. Aunt Lydia is a major part of the story again. The show digs into where she fits inside the system now, while at the same time following these younger characters as they slowly realize the world they were raised in might not be what it claims to be.
Who’s in the cast of ‘The Testaments’?
Ann Dowd returns to the world of Gilead as Aunt Lydia, the only confirmed returning character from “The Handmaid’s Tale” so far. The new series centers largely on a younger cast. Chase Infiniti plays Agnes and Lucy Halliday plays Daisy. Rowan Blanchard also joins the cast as Shunammite, a privileged teen from a powerful Gilead family who holds some series social credit in her class. Mattea Conforti plays Becka, another student living under Gilead’s rule. The wider cast includes Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien.
Who created ‘The Testaments’?
“The Testaments” is created for television by Bruce Miller, who served as the longtime showrunner of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Miller also executive produces the series alongside Elisabeth Moss and others. The series continues the story originally created by Margaret Atwood in her 2019 novel of the same name.
How can you watch ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ before ‘The Testaments’?
If you want a refresher before “The Testaments” arrives, all six seasons of “The Handmaid’s Tale” are streaming now on Hulu. That means you can binge the entire story from the beginning and get fully caught up on the world of Gilead before the sequel series premieres. Hulu plans start at $12 per month for the ad-supported tier.
The Testaments
Growing up in Gilead is all they have ever known. As a new generation of young women grapple with the bleak future that awaits them, they will be forced to search for allies, new and old, to help in their fight for freedom.