Will the popular dystopian television series created by Bruce Miller, return this month or not? Here is everything we know about the potential release of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6.
With tensions running high and danger lurking around every corner as we return to Gilead, the anticipation of the fans for knowing what they can expect to see in the upcoming season is at an all-time high, as the continued tale of June and her fellow handmaid’s struggles has been keeping us on the edge of our seats for the last six years!
We are certain the fandom wants the next season, which will end the series, to live up to expectations, especially after how the last one ended with June trying to find a way to keep herself and her family safe from Gilead and its violent supporters in Toronto.
This cliffhanger has been lingering over our heads for months as fans eagerly await news on when the much-anticipated sixth and final season will premiere. Some are also wondering if there’s any hope of its return in May 2023 or not. If you have the same questions, then you’ve reached the right place to get all the answers!
We have compiled a list of all the recent updates for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 for you right here.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Release Date Prediction: When will the series premiere?
Sadly, even after being renewed months ago, in September 2022, ahead of the fifth season premiere, the series was renewed for a sixth and final season. Hulu has yet to confirm the official release date for the upcoming season, which has once again left fans in the dark about whether it will even make a return this summer season or not. To clear up your doubts relating to the potential release date, we have some updates that will brighten your day.
According to what we’ve heard, The Handmaid’s Tale has been reported to begin production this summer season. With this schedule planned ahead, one thing is pretty clear: there is no way that the new episodes will not return in May 2023! “I just heard we’re not going back until August,” Bradley Whitford told Entertainment Tonight. Further adding, “I don’t know what the logistical reason for that is… As you know, there’s a lot of labor issues that need to be solved in Hollywood.”
Everything pertaining to the release date is therefore speculative, but given the trend, we believe the network is planning an early to mid-2024 release on Hulu and other streaming services with the same time slot of midnight ET and 3 a.m. PT. There may be a similar year gap as before, given that the most recent season was released in September 2022.
So, we are certain that the creators won’t delay it further. As, the beloved show has become one of the most talked-about shows in recent memory, gaining a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the fifth season earned positive reviews from 80% of 31 critics, with an average rating of 7.55/10. Whereas, Metacritic gave it an average score of 63 out of 100, based on 7 reviews, indicating “generally positive reviews”.
Of course, this is just pure conjecture, and fans should wait and keep an eye on the show’s social media handles for all the latest details and updates. In order to receive updates on when the show premieres, interested viewers can also enable notifications. Additionally, the official Twitter handle also confirmed the renewal of the show, quoting, “We can’t keep this a secret any longer. #TheHandmaidsTale will return for a 6th and final season on @hulu.!”
Take a look at the official announcement of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 renewal below:
We can't keep this a secret any longer. #TheHandmaidsTale will return for a 6th and final season on @hulu. ✊ pic.twitter.com/baVbYjgSdz
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) September 8, 2022
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6: What can the fans expect to see in the new season?
The Emmy-winning series has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide with its gripping storyline, powerful performances, and thought-provoking themes and character arcs. So far, the sixth season seems to promising and ever more intense and heart-wrenching, as we follow the journey of June and her fellow handmaids as they fight against the oppressive regime of Gilead. With new challenges and obstacles to overcome, the stakes are higher than ever before.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the showrunner also teased that Nick and June have some unfinished business in the final season. “I feel like this is the most romantic Nick/June season ever because they spend the whole time trying to convince themselves that they don’t need to be together.” Further adding, “And by the end, they are not successful at all, they fail entirely. They don’t even see each other in the last episode, and they’re so in love they can’t think about anything else.”
If you recall the fifth season’s last episode, “Safe” ended with June feeling uneasy in Canada in the aftermath of the attempt on her life as anti-refugee sentiment increases, but Luke reassures her that they’re fine. As she is walking outside, a truck with a Gileadean bumper sticker runs into her before running over her arm. Before the truck can crush her, Luke intervenes and beats the driver severely and June is rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Nick worries more and more about June’s safety, knowing that Gilead will not stop until she is dead. He decides to accept Tuello’s offer of being a mole in order to protect June. After visiting June in the hospital, Nick returns to Gilead and punches Lawrence at his wedding, blaming him for the attack. While Nick sits in jail, Rose visits him and says that she knows he still loves June and tells him she is done with him.
Janine is told by Aunt Lydia that she will be posted with Commander Lawrence and Naomi. Initially open to the idea of spending more time with her daughter, Janine lashes out at Naomi when she is called “Ofjoseph” by her, telling Naomi that that is not her name and that she hates her. As a result, Janine is later arrested by the Eyes along with Martha from Lawrence’s household who was seen giving Janine information about June’s safety.
Back in Canada, the driver who attacked June dies as a result of Luke’s beating, and Rita informs him that the Toronto police will issue a warrant for his arrest.
Luke brushes it off as an overreaction, but June insists that they cannot wait until it is too late to leave, like they did in Boston during the rise of Gilead. They initially plan to fly from Toronto to Honolulu via Anchorage, but Tuello arrives to inform them that the police will be waiting for them at the airport. Instead, he offers them new travel documents and offers them passage on a train bound for Vancouver, from where they can take a boat to Hawaii.
While in the queue at the train station, the two see police checking documents. Realizing June and Nichole cannot get to safety with him, Luke stays behind and is arrested while they board the train. While on the train, June hears another baby cry and finds Serena and Noah on the train as well. We would like to mention that details about the plot have been limited, so you should be patient as the network will reveal more information in the coming months.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6: Who will return in the next season?
The main cast members who are expected to reprise their roles include Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger. On the other hand, Deadline has recently confirmed that Jeremy Shamos will also guest-star in the sixth season.
Moreover, back in March 2023, it was reported that Miller had stepped down as showrunner of The Handmaid’s Tale, in order to focus on adapting The Testaments for television. Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang were named co-showrunners for the sixth and final season, though it was also announced that Miller would remain involved and would write two episodes.
The Handmaid’s Tale is produced by MGM Television and executive produced by Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Rachel Shukert, Sheila Hockin, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Steve Stark, and Kim Todd. The series is internationally distributed by MGM.
Gilead leaves a stain. #TheHandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/1vUsm81S8H
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) May 18, 2023
The Handmaid’s Tale Frequently Asked Questions
What is the show based on?
The Handmaid’s Tale is an American dystopian television series created by Bruce Miller, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. The plot features a dystopia following the Second American Civil War wherein a totalitarian society subjects fertile women, called “Handmaids”, to child-bearing slavery.
How many episodes will there be?
The upcoming season is speculated to have a total of 10 episodes with a runtime of 41 to 65 minutes, which will drop on a weekly basis. The official episode titles and synopsis of the episodes haven’t been released yet. So, we suggest the viewers be patient and follow the social media handles of the show to stay up-to-date on the latest details.
Will there be a Handmaid’s Tale spin-off?
Fans will be delighted to hear that a spin-off series is indeed in the works! Deadline confirmed that showrunner Bruce Miller has been working on a sequel to the hit show alongside season six. The Testaments is an upcoming spin-off of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, which is set 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale. and the show will feature several returning characters from the original series.
“Margaret [Atwood] and I had lots of conversations about the character [of June]. She watched some of the show before she even started to write The Testaments. I think that the characters have a lot of similarities, which is wonderful—and they are definitely falling into place for The Testaments. But for June, I don’t feel an allegiance to wrap her up the way she’s wrapped up in The Testaments novel. I just want to follow the story and make sure it makes sense. But the thing that you should remember is that all the voiceover we’re hearing, this story is June’s story.”
Where can you stream all the prior seasons?
The Handmaid’s Tale is exclusively available to stream on Hulu, with other series of the same genre also accessible on the streaming platform with a range of membership options. The first four seasons are available on Hulu in the United States. It costs $6.99 per month and is cancelable at any time. The series can also be streamed by renting or purchasing it on Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon Instant Video, depending on the viewer’s location.
Do not disturb. The season finale of #TheHandmaidsTale is now streaming. pic.twitter.com/RV1Udz42kD
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) November 9, 2022
While you wait for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 to premiere on Hulu, share your thoughts on the potential release date in the comments.