When Does Handmaids Tale Season Start Again

The Handmaid's Tale spoilers follow.

Gilead is a depressing, atrocious place to visit, so we're happy to bring fans of The Handmaid's Tale some good news for a change: the show is officially coming back for a fifth season! Even before flavour iv kicked off, the cast confirmed the show's renewal dorsum in December 2020.

Chatting to The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Bruce Miller said: "We are thrilled to be able to keep to tell these stories with our incredible cast and crew, and can't wait to be dorsum on the air with season four next year."

samira wiley as moira, the handmaid's tale season 4

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Merely volition this be the last season? In another interview with THR, Miller admitted that he "doesn't know" if season v volition exist its final outing:

"We talked about it, and [Elisabeth Moss] and I have talked near it, and the writing staff and I have talked about information technology extensively, nigh where we're going precisely, merely I practice experience similar after this year, it's a skilful time to reassess."

In an interview for Deadline's Contenders TV virtual issue, he expanded on that, saying: "I'one thousand never looking to end it... The team made an incredible Television receiver bear witness, so I'g not so quick to say, 'Oh, you know, permit'due south just walk away.'

"I know what the cease is and I'yard not going to overstay my welcome, just I'chiliad also not going to rush off if I don't have to because as long as I am writing for Elisabeth Moss, it really doesn't get much better."

Hashemite kingdom of jordan Helman, caput of scripted originals at Hulu, told Deadline that closing out the show in "creative way that feels organic" is of the utmost importance. "We oasis't landed on an respond," he added. "I imagine we're going to exist able to answer that question in the coming months."

And it sounds like the respond might involve a spin-off series focused on Margaret Atwood's recent source material.

Rich Fury / Correspondent Getty Images

"The birth of The Testaments on Hulu and the eventual end of The Handmaid's Tale are related," Helman added. "We're figuring out that as nosotros speak."

All the same, since then information technology's been confirmed that a flavor six is also in progress – then mayhap at that place is more traumatic, bleak-futured life in the tale yet.

But that's a problem for *future us*. In the meantime, allow'due south take a closer expect at what's in store for The Handmaid'south Tale season five.

The Handmaid's Tale season 5 potential release date: When volition information technology air?

the handmaids tale season 4 elisabeth moss

Hulu

Sadly, as of March 2022, there is no confirmed date for when The Handmaid's Tale will exist back on our screens.

Nonetheless, the bear witness is back in its filming location of Ontario, Canada, to first product.

A filming notice for the Brantford expanse noted a bear witness with the championship Cherry-red Road was shooting in the area from mid-February through to mid-March. Information technology's believed that Ruby Road is the production name of The Handmaid'south Tale (ruby red similar the Handmaids' cloaks... get it?)

Brantford is one of the many locations around the Ontario expanse the show has used in the past, with a secondary detect adding filming would take identify on a number of streets, likewise as at a private residence. For the neighbours, they're promising to keep the noise down (at least during the evenings anyhow!)

Ann Dowd, who plays Aunt Lydia, had as well previously confirmed shooting would begin in February 2022 to The Independent.

On February 9, Amanda Brugel also shared a video back on set, with the clip marked 'flavor five' and showing a chair with her character's name, Rita, on it.

With this in mind, we're probably looking at a summertime 2022 premiere at the earliest. Only our money's on the autumn.

The Handmaid's Tale season 5 cast: Who will be in it?

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Gilead is non exactly the safest place to be, and even though June has at present escaped to Canada, that doesn't mean every character is suddenly protected from harm.

But assuming that well-nigh of the major players do return, it looks like the following will all appear in The Handmaid'due south Tale season 5:

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Yvonne Strahovski every bit Serena Joy Waterford
• Alexis Bledel as Emily
• Madeline Brewer as Janine
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke
• Max Minghella equally Nick
• Samira Wiley as Moira
• Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence
• Amanda Brugel as Rita

One major cast member who definitely won't be returning in the nowadays is Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford. At the finish of season four, June enlisted her swain survivors to finally exact their revenge on the Commander by beating him to death in the no man's land between Gilead and Canada. However, given the trauma that Fred inflicted on June, we wouldn't be surprised if he does pop up every now and again in flashback form, or as visions in June'due south heed.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Bruce Miller explained that nosotros'll "certainly I think we'll see Fred again. I mean, I would die if I didn't see Joe [Fiennes] over again".

handmaid's tale, season 2 finale, serena joy yvonne strahovski

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Chatting to TVLine about whether Serena will doubtable June was responsible for her married man'southward death, Strahovski said: "Yes. I feel like she'll know in her heart. They know each other and so well, I tin can't imagine that not crossing her mind… I can imagine June purposely telling Serena about information technology considering she wants Serena to live in absolute fearfulness, if and when she gets out of the detention eye. I mean, could y'all imagine?

"If you knew that someone was out there, outside, capable of doing something like that to your husband or your partner, and then y'all're trying to live out in the real world, with a baby? I simply think that is the virtually paranoid existence you lot could e'er live, knowing that June has washed what she's done."

Miller explored how Fiennes could return with The Hollywood Reporter, maxim: "I think the stories of Serena and Fred that nosotros haven't seen before, fifty-fifty in early on Gilead, are fascinating. In the finale, we revisit Fred and June and what happened in the Waterford firm in flashbacks. I would never have anything like that off the table. I dear that we tin can access that stuff where the viewer and June are on the same folio and thinking dorsum to the same things.

"Before, in that location were a lot of flashbacks where June was leaving us to remember virtually Hannah. But now, we're with her. When she's walking to run into Fred and she'due south remembering walking to the anniversary, I remember that. You're not only existence carried by her, you're walking with her in that experience.

"It has the potential to push things in a ton of means. It could push button Serena to be a very sympathetic effigy. It could push her into a rage that is inexplicable; information technology could push her into a level of freedom. For June, it could button her to infamy or it could push her to prison. She'due south a refugee who did this but, on the other manus, who is going to know? Who was in that location and who is going to tell them? The squeamish affair is that it can turn into a giant prototype and inspiration, or an image that besmirches the Handmaids.

"Anyone who looks at it can come across a very different thing, which is what I was trying to do with the placement of the prototype at the terminate of the episode. Where you say, 'Oh, crap, she did this.' Information technology's all sort of not bad and awful feelings at the same time; Fred doesn't have a caput and it's this horrible matter, and all the same she's standing there with the baby. The end is about how wonderful and terrible that is. Moving forward, that prototype of Fred is what June sees every time she closes her optics."

joseph fiennes as fred waterford, the handmaid's tale season 4 finale

Hulu/Sophie Giraud

Fiennes is certainly keen to continue the story (via Fortress of Solitude). "I would honey to see an episode where we delve dorsum into the early days to examine the headiness and support that Fred provided Serena," he said. "Post-obit how information technology went incorrect would testify the corrosive effects of power peculiarly, when you have a weaker character like Fred, who hides beneath double-breasted jackets, political positions, and mahogany desks."

A new add-on to the Waterford family unit and the cast at large volition be Serena's unnamed baby, but we doubt anyone famous will be playing them in flavour v!

And although she's but appeared in two episodes and then far, we're near certain that McKenna Grace will reprise the role of Mrs Keyes in season v. Esther volition demand all the help she can get now that Aunt Lydia has forced her to become a Handmaid. At to the lowest degree she has Janine for company...

The Handmaid's Tale season v plot: What volition the second season be about?

elisabeth moss, yvonne strahovski, the handmaid's tale season 4

Hulu/Sophie Giraud

Plot specifics are hard to come by correct now, although information technology's safe to say that The Handmaid's Tale will continue to explore June's trauma following her escape from Gilead to Canada.

Ann Dowd, who plays Aunt Lydia, has already promised something explosive in the opening episodes of the flavour.

"I've read the kickoff couple of episodes and all I can say is they're and then skillful. I only didn't see whatsoever of this stuff coming. To exist able to become to season five and y'all're thinking, 'What?!'" she told The Independent.

She clarified: "Non in an outlandish way where you're thinking, 'Await a minute, how could that happen?' It's like: '[gasps] that is fantastic.' It's actually skillful.

Dowd added: "At that place's stuff that happens that's similar, 'Woah, woah, woah.'"

the handmaid's tale season 3, aunt lydia ann dowd

Hulu/Sophie Giraud Aqueduct 4

Appearing on chat bear witness The View in March 2022, Samira Wiley, who plays Moira, teased how the series will outset off and said: "We're picking up, actually exactly where we left off. Everyone who saw the flavour finale knows what happened with Commander Waterford. And so June, as always, is in a little bit of trouble."

Noting June'due south successful motion to Canada, Samira teased trouble ahead and added: "She has resource around her at present that she hasn't had before living in Gilead. So, nosotros'll run into how that will play out. How June tin fight Gilead from within Canada and the aid of her friends."

But volition the often divisive torture-porn aesthetic remain?

Speaking to Digital Spy last year, Amanda Brugel, who plays Rita, addressed the controversy: "I really think the just fashion to brand an impact is to make people uncomfortable. Not then uncomfortable that they turn away, simply that it hits a nerve in order to make people stand up and pay attending."

And she also foreshadowed the intensity we might expect from the bear witness in season five. "I think it'south of import to show that we're not fifty-fifty close to being done with our journey, peculiarly towards violence against women, misogyny, and there being equity between the genders," she said.

But whether the show has fourth dimension to explore everything it wants to depends on whether it even continues beyond season v. Miller has previously stated that The Handmaid'southward Tale volition "keep going" as long as Elisabeth Moss remains involved.

"At that place'due south a lot of life in this story," he told Deadline. "I'm certainly fascinated by what happens in The Testaments and if that's going to exist role of our future."

The Testaments is a sequel which takes place 10 years later on the first book and explores the legacy that June leaves backside in Gilead and beyond through the eyes of three woman, one of whom is Aunt Lydia.

"That feels fantastic," said Dowd of her casting during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Evidence. "I'm just going to say it right at present, I thought to myself I hope they're going to let me play her. The problem is that if they don't, the actress who would have been chosen should watch her dorsum considering I would chase her until she gives it upward."

She added: "I was thrilled – let's get real on that – by what Aunt Lydia does and how she does it, her understanding of Gilead to its core and what will bring information technology downwardly. What surprised me – and didn't – is how [she] got involved in Gilead in the first identify.

"When you play a role such equally Lydia in The Handmaid'due south Tale, you search for a human connection that somehow explains why she would make the choices she makes. Now, you read The Testaments, and Lydia, existence a family court estimate, realised really rapidly, 'If I want to alive and survive this globe, this is what you have to do. Not only am I going to practice information technology, I'1000 going to do it better than anybody so I'm going to be ruling the other Aunts.'"

Hulu

There'southward been no word on whether The Handmaid's Tale is allowed to explore this material because it'south already been signed past MGM Television and Hulu for some other Tv adaptation.

Meanwhile, June's desire for revenge might have merely price her the family she ever wanted to be reunited with. In the final moments of season iv, she kills Fred and then goes domicile to Nicole, covered in blood. Knowing that she's crossed a line, June asks Luke if she can but have a few minutes with her child before leaving.

Moving forward, expect June to go along resisting Gilead simply from Canada with the help of Emily and other survivors. In fact, nosotros can probably expect full out war and plenty more than subterfuge if the direction of those last scenes is annihilation to go by.

Brugel spoke to Digital Spy about her vision of season v, for her own character Rita, and June. "My suspicion is that June will continue the run, or June will have to become into hiding. I think in that location'll be a target on her back. And I recollect that those of us in Canada will have to try to pick up the pieces.

"I likewise have a suspicion that my relationship – my ongoing relationship with Serena Joy – while complicated, will probably deepen because she is significant, and considering Rita… She does care nigh Serena Joy, and the fact that there'south a child at that place."

She concluded: "Especially for my character, her only existent purpose in Gilead was to raise children.

"Now that she's fleeing Canada, it even so doesn't accept abroad from her instinct and impulse to heighten a child, and have care of something, because she lost her son, equally nosotros know."

Miller also spoke to Entertainment Weekly about what we can await from season five, which he describes as Sophie's Selection: The Series.

"It's the American story – can we snap back to normal, or exercise we accept to move on into something new? And that's where June is right now," Miller said. "She's washed this terrible matter, or what she feels like is irredeemable. Can she snap dorsum? Or does she have to determine that sometimes y'all not just accept to sacrifice function of your life, just you have to cede your whole life to making the world amend for the side by side generation?

"And I retrieve it isn't just changing presidents. Information technology isn't only passing one constabulary, like what we're realising now, simply some fights are just a fight you continue to have, a struggle you'll proceed to make... So I remember that for June, information technology's the integration of June the warrior and Offred the warrior into June the mother and Offred the mother."

The Handmaid's Tale season 5 trailer: When tin can we see a Netflix promo?

Unless product on season five is ramped upward ASAP, nosotros won't exist able to smuggle whatsoever new footage through Gilead's borders anytime before long. Distressing nearly that!

But continue checking in and we'll update y'all as before long every bit nosotros know more.

The Handmaid's Tale arrogance on Hulu in the United states and Channel 4 in the UK.