Here’s all we know about The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

The Handmaid’s Tale, an American dystopian television series, which was developed by Bruce Miller, based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name, has been receiving critical acclaim since its inception. So much so, that it became top-rated television shows on Hulu’s digital streaming platform. Which is why, as soon as Season 4 got released, the die-hard fans started to speculate about Season 5 and what more twists it would bring.

For the unversed, The Handmaid’s Tale revolves around a dystopia set after the Second American Civil War in which a sexist authoritarian government subjects fertile women known as “Handmaids” to child-bearing slavery. 

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

With the series being such a big hit, getting another season wasn’t a tough decision. The show was officially renewed for a fifth season, back in December 2020, even before Season 4 premiered, which again, is a clear example of the show’s success. Take a look at the official announcement of the renewal below.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Announcement | A Hulu Original

If you’re a fan of The Handmaid’s Tale as much as we are, we’ve produced a list of all the key updates on The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 for you to look forward to for the time being and reminisce all the previous seasons before jumping right into the upcoming season.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Expected Release Date

The last episode of Season 4, titled The Wilderness, was released on June 16, 2021. It’s been more than half a year and the official release date for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 has not been revealed yet.

But looking at the previous release dates for Season 1 and Season 2, they usually range from around April 26, 2017, to April 25, 2018, with the exception of the third season that was released much later around June 5, 2019. Whereas, the fourth season was released on April 27, 2021. Unfortunately, as of May 2022, there is no definitive date for when The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 will return to our screens. Hence, we suggest the fans patiently wait and speculate about the potential release date, which might make its debut sometime around September 2022.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

The filming for Season 5 reportedly began in February 2022 and is speculated to conclude in July 2022. The production of the next season was able to begin early, which is always a good indicator that the season would be able to release on schedule rather than being delayed more.

Take a look at a BTS video shared by Amanda Brugel who portrays Rita Blue on February 9, 2022, which gives a glimpse of the set with the clip marked ‘Season 5’. 

 

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A post shared by Amanda Brugel (@amandabrugel)

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Expected Plot

By the end of Season 4, we saw that the ICC judges are preoccupied and June’s testimony against Fred is being recorded. She tells Emily that she is worried about Fred’s trip to Geneva, where he will be granted immunity. June talks with Fred, who expresses his regret for the anguish she felt when Hannah was stripped away from her. 

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

June is dissatisfied and deals with Tuello to bring Fred to justice; she arranges for the two to meet in a secluded café with Commander Lawrence, who suggests releasing 22 freedom-fighting Gileadan women in return for Fred. Tuello says he’ll seek permission from his employer.

Moreover, Fred bids Serena farewell and prepares to depart for Geneva, but he is apprehended by Tuello, exchanged for the 22 women, and brought to Lawrence and Nick, both of whom present Fred to June in No Man’s Land. 

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

June, Emily, and other ex-handmaids pursue Fred through the woods, beat him to death, and hang him from a wall. June arrives home with blood on her face, much to Luke’s surprise. While Serena prepares for Fred to video contact her online as arranged, the mail carrier picks through Serena’s envelopes and opens one that contains Fred’s wedding band and ring finger.

So, The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 is expected to cover this ground in detail. Actor Joseph Fiennes Waterford in an interview with Entertainment Weekly stated, “I felt that it really delivered the finale that I felt, and I think my cast-mates felt, was needed and deserved for the fans.”

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

In another interview with Entertainment Weekly, Yvonne Strahovski stated that she can’t say much, but when asked about the finale, she says that when she read the script, her “jaw was on the floor.”

She added, “I’m genuinely excited about what everyone’s going to think about it, because for me personally, it’s the most satisfying season finale that Handmaid’s has had to date, so it’s just exciting,” she teases. “I can’t help but smile when people ask me about it, because I just can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

According to an interview with Deadline, the showrunner Bruce Miller hinted that we will continue to see Waterford in flashbacks. He stated, “I think that although Fred is dead, his influence on June continues and that is, in our show, shown through her mind’s eye of flashbacks.” 

While not much is revealed about the plot of Season 5, but the small details teased by the actors prove that we can expect to see the character arcs might develop more and Season 5 could bring something bigger and better on our plates.

Take a look at some fans’ reactions

 

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Expected Cast

There is no official information released about the potential cast members of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 but as of now all of the original cast members, as well as the recurring cast members, are likely to reprise their roles in the upcoming season.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

Moreover, the writers and producers of the series may integrate a few new characters to broaden the plot and keep it fascinating after the premiere of the finale episode of Season 4, The Wilderness, which was released on June 16, 2021. It is clear that the chances are that the story can be explored further.

Hence, the cast members of the series who might appear in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 are listed below: 

  • O. T. Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
  • Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
  • Alexis Bledel as Dr. Emily Malek
  • Max Minghella as Commander Nick Blaine
  • Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
  • Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
  • Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence
  • Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
  • Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
  • Jordana Blake as Hannah Bankole
  • Stephen Kunken as Commander Warren Putnam
  • Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
  • Mckenna Grace as Esther Keyes
The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Expected Episodes

We should expect The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 to feature the same number of episodes like the previous seasons, which is likely because many television shows follow a similar pattern to convey plots and character arcs. The episodes typically varied from 10 to 13, with Season 1 and Season 4 each having 10 episodes. Seasons 2 and 3, on the other hand, include 13 episodes each with a runtime of roughly 48 minutes.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

The wait for a trailer seems long

It’s a no-brainer that there is no trailer for Season 5 yet because the series is still in production. And it won’t be wrong to see that we have to wait for a while before we get any teaser or trailer for the new season.

For the time being watch this exclusive interview where ET Canada’s Morgan Hoffman catches up with Elisabeth Moss to find out about her thrilling new Apple TV+ series, Shining Girls, and taking on directing duties in the highly anticipated fifth season of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Where can you stream The Handmaid’s Tale?

Right now, you can watch The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu Plus. You can also  stream The Handmaid’s Tale by renting or purchasing on Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon Instant Video.

The Handmaid's Tale Season 5: Potential Release date, cast, plot, and more
Credit: Hulu

Catch up with all the prior seasons before The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 premieres this year. 

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