The Handmaid’s Tale Renewed for 6th and Final Season
The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed for a sixth and final season on Hulu, news that comes just days before the premiere of season 5.
“It has been a true honor to tell the story of Margaret Atwood’s groundbreaking novel and chillingly relevant world, and we are thrilled to bring viewers a sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale,” Bruce Miller, the show’s creator, showrunner, and executive producer, said in a statement. “We are grateful to Hulu and MGM for allowing us to tell this story, which unfortunately has remained as relevant as ever throughout its run, and are in awe of our incredible fans for their unwavering support, and without whom we never would have gotten to this point.”
No synopsis, potential release date, or casting announcements have been made yet, but the current cast did celebrate the news in a video posted on social media last night. Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O.T. Fagbenle, Bradley Whitford, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Amanda Brugel, and Sam Jaeger, said we’ll have to “wait and see” what happens in the series’ closing chapter and thanked fans for their support through the years.
“When we started this journey in season 1, we bore no more. In season 2, we reclaimed our name. In season 3, we set ourselves free. In season 4, we preyed together. In season 5, you’ll see how some sins can’t be washed away. And as to season six, our sixth and final season, well, you’ll just have to wait and see. We can’t thank you enough for supporting the show over the years. Much love to you all. Under his eye.”
The Handmaid’s Tale, adapted from Margaret Atwood’s seminal 1985 novel of the same name, first premiered on Hulu in 2017. Tackling timely themes of misogyny, patriarchy, women’s bodily autonomy, and reproductive rights, the series deeply resonated with viewers in the midst of the #MeToo movement and Trump’s presidency. Through the years, it has taken home 15 Emmy Awards and made history as the first streaming title to win in the Outstanding Drama Series category. It won a Peabody Award as well.
The drama’s sixth season won’t be the last we see of Gilead onscreen; Miller is currently adapting Atwood’s 2019 book The Testaments, which takes place years after the events of Handmaid’s Tale. Praise be.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.