The world of Gilead is back. Hulu released The Testaments on April 8, 2026, bringing viewers again into the dark but fascinating universe created by Margaret Atwood. This new chapter moves away from June Osborne’s story and focuses on a younger generation growing up inside the oppressive regime. If you are wondering whether to watch this sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, here is everything you need to know about the cast, the story, and where to stream it.
A New Story Years After the Original Show
The Testaments takes place roughly four years after the ending of The Handmaid’s Tale. The series is based on Atwood’s 2019 novel, which won the Booker Prize. Instead of following handmaids fighting for survival, this show looks at life through the eyes of teenage girls who have only ever known Gilead’s rules. These young women are being raised to become the future wives of commanders. They live in luxury but have no real freedom. They cannot read, they cannot choose their husbands, and they must obey without question.
The official logline describes the show as a “dramatic coming-of-age story” set in the gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school. It follows two main teenagers: Agnes, who is dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a newcomer from outside Gilead’s borders. Their friendship becomes the driving force that challenges the system.
Meet the Cast of The Testaments
The series introduces a fresh cast of young actors while bringing back one major familiar face.
Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia. Fans of the original show know her as the strict, terrifying enforcer at the Red Center. In this sequel, Lydia runs a school for future wives. The character has changed slightly. She seems softer and more gentle, though she still carries the weight of her past actions.
Chase Infiniti plays Agnes. This is a big role for the young actress, who got an Academy Award nomination for her work in One Battle After Another. Agnes is the daughter of June Osborne, though she does not remember her real mother. She was taken as a child and raised by a commander’s family.
Lucy Halliday plays Daisy. She arrives at the school as a “Pearl Girl,” a newcomer from Canada. Her character brings knowledge of the outside world, which makes her dangerous.
The supporting cast includes Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World) as Shunammite, a pampered teen from a powerful family. Mattea Conforti plays Becka, Agnes’s best friend who gives one of the most emotional performances in the show. Other cast members include Isolde Ardies, Mabel Li, and Amy Seimetz as the cold stepmother Paula.
Elisabeth Moss Returns as June Osborne
While Elisabeth Moss is not a main character in The Testaments, she does show up. Moss appears on screen at the end of the first episode and again in the third episode. Showrunner Bruce Miller explained that June’s story is not over. In the novel, June appears only at the end, but the TV series expands her role. June is now working with Mayday, the resistance group, and she is still searching for her daughter Hannah, who is now Agnes.
Moss also serves as an executive producer on the series. The younger cast members said she was very supportive and gave them guidance during filming.
What the Critics Are Saying
Reviews for The Testaments are mixed but generally positive. Critics agree that the show looks beautiful and the acting is strong, especially from Chase Infiniti and Mattea Conforti. However, some reviewers feel the pacing is slow. The first season spends a lot of time setting up the story for future seasons, which might frustrate viewers who want immediate action.
One review called the show “an imbalanced yet effective follow-up.” The same review noted that the dialogue can sometimes feel too simple and the tone shifts awkwardly between dark drama and teenage coming-of-age moments. On the other hand, another review praised the series as a “beautifully executed dystopian nightmare,” highlighting the strong friendships between the young characters.
Ann Dowd believes this new focus makes the show easier to watch than the original. “It doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its intensity. It does,” she said. “But we’re dealing with a whole group of different characters. We’re focusing on the young women and how they interact with one another, and they can’t help but resist and grow.”
Streaming Details and Release Schedule
The Testaments is a Hulu Original series. The first three episodes dropped on April 8, 2026. New episodes come out every Wednesday. The season will have 10 episodes total, with the finale scheduled for May 27, 2026.
Here is the full release schedule:
- Episode 1, 2, 3: April 8
- Episode 4: April 15
- Episode 5: April 22
- Episode 6: April 29
- Episode 7: May 6
- Episode 8: May 13
- Episode 9: May 20
- Episode 10: May 27
New episodes arrive at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET on release days.
Where to Watch Around the World
For viewers in the United States, the show streams on Hulu. If you have the Disney+ bundle that includes Hulu, you can also watch it through the Hulu hub on Disney+.
For international audiences, The Testaments is available on Disney+ in most regions. This includes the UK, Canada, Australia, and India. A standard Disney+ subscription gives you access to the show.
A Hulu subscription in the US starts at $11.99 per month for the ad-supported plan. New subscribers can get a 30-day free trial to watch the show without paying right away. The Disney+ bundle, which includes Hulu and Disney+ together, starts at $12.99 per month.
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Should You Watch The Testaments
If you enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale and want to see more of the Gilead universe, this show is worth your time. However, you should adjust your expectations. The Testaments is not the same show. It has a slower pace and focuses on the psychological awakening of teenage girls rather than the desperate escape attempts of handmaids. The violence is still there, but it feels different because the characters are younger and more innocent.
Do you need to watch all six seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale first? Not necessarily. The show provides enough context for new viewers to understand the world. But knowing what happened to June and why Gilead exists will make the experience richer. If you remember the major events of the original series, you will catch many small details and connections in this sequel.
Rowan Blanchard, who plays Shunammite, said she understands the teen characters deeply. “There’s nothing more powerless than being a teenage girl,” she told the Associated Press. “So much is happening in such a short amount of time. So many emotions, you know? So much self-realization is happening, and these girls are having to form their identities in a very specific way.”
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