Is The Handmaid’s Tale returning for another season? Continue reading to find out more about The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6.
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 a Second American Civil War wherein a theonomic, totalitarian society subjects fertile women, called “Handmaids”, to child-bearing slavery.
After having five seasons approved to continue the storyline, the faith of the series seems in safe hands, with Rotten Tomatoes having 94% of 259 reviews that are positive for the first season, with an average rating of 8.65/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Haunting and vivid, The Handmaid’s Tale is an endlessly engrossing adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel that’s anchored by a terrific central performance from Elisabeth Moss.”
Since the premiere of the fourth season, fans have wanted to know if the series will finally return to Hulu this year or not. Will the series conclude with the fifth season or not? As the fall season is upon us, we have some excellent news for the fans as The Handmaid’s Tale’s fifth season is premiering this year on September 14, 2022.
Ahead of its release, the network has already confirmed that the show is greenlit for a sixth and final season due to popular demand by the fans and as the perfect way to conclude the story that the viewers truly deserve as they have been invested in for so many episodes. Hence, it was easy for the network to continue and expand this franchise. To help you prepare before streaming the new season, we’ve put up a quick summary of everything about the latest season of The Handmaid’s Tale.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Renewal Status
The renewal comes ahead of the fifth season premiere. The official Twitter handle of The Handmaid’s Tale also shared the renewal status, 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 post 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
“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,” said Miller 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.”
Further adding, “Five years ago, almost to the day, The Handmaid’s Tale made history when it became the first show to win an Emmy for a streaming service. In the time since it has been a privilege and pleasure to work with some of the finest creative talent in our industry on this show – a distinct and exceptional group of people who continue to produce the highest quality television that has made and continues to make significant cultural impact. Bruce, Warren, Lizzie, and the entire team at MGM have been amazing partners, and we hope fans enjoy these last two seasons,” said Craig Erwich, President, ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Release Date
Like many original Hulu series, the release date for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 is presently uncertain, although that is likely because the season’s development is still in its pre-production phase. The writers will need some time to complete the season, and the cast will need time to introduce any past or new characters for the last season one last time.
The show is expected to have a late 2023 or early 2024 release, with episodes lasting, on average, 41–65 minutes. It is anticipated that it will elaborate on the fifth season finale, which will create the plot for the finale season and conclude the storyline in a proper way that the characters and the audience deserve to see.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Plot
Creator, showrunner, and executive producer Bruce Miller tells The Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive interview about the drama’s forthcoming conclusion, stating, “It’s been a very, very, very luxurious time that I’ve had to think about what happens at the end of this story and exactly how we’d like to get there as a company,” Further adding, “I’m very glad we’re being able to do it on our own terms because I know how lucky that makes us — all the actors and creative people who put their hearts and souls into it — to close up the play the way you want. Dropping the curtain the way you want is such a huge privilege.”
“I’ve been thinking about the end since the beginning,” Miller says of the series, which launched to universal critical acclaim, picking up 15 Emmys along the way, and has ended up being eerily prescient amid the tumultuous U.S. political climate of recent years. “I’ve been thinking about the end of this story since I read The Handmaid’s Tale the first time. It’s one of those books that when you finish reading it, all you think about is the end,” he says. “So in the end, story-wise, we’ve been able to stay pretty close to what we had thought, from our initial discussions and what Lizzy and I had talked about, and what Margaret and I had talked about.”
“The show begins and you know what it’s about — it’s following the story of this woman. So you know from the beginning that where you are going is to a certain moment in the story of this woman,” he says of the title giving his job as showrunner a “nice bit” of structure. “It’s not the June Osborne Tale, it’s The Handmaid’s Tale and a certain time of her life when she identified a certain way. When that time ends, luckily, very fortunately, we get to go into The Testaments, which June’s story is a part of but not central to. It’s a perfect creative situation that we get to peel off but maintain our connection with all of our characters that we’ve built and loved, and all of the actors. The part that is heartbreaking and terrifying is to leave the actors behind.”
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Cast and Crew
The main cast members of the series who are expected to reprise their roles are as follows:
- Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred / Ofjoseph
- Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford
- Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
- Alexis Bledel as Dr. Emily Malek
- Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
- Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia ClementsBefore Gilead
- O. T. Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
- Max Minghella as Commander Nick Blaine
- Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
- Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
- Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence
- Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
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.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episodes
We’d also like to point out that, as of September 10, 2022, the exact titles and numbers for the episodes of the finale season cannot be confirmed. It is speculated to have at least 10 to 13 episodes with a runtime of 41–65 minutes. As the network will publish those details when the episodes are due to air on the streaming service. So, we would advise fans to be patient while waiting for these updates, which will be issued in the coming weeks.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5: What to expect?
According to Deadline, The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 follows June (Elisabeth Moss) in the aftermath of Commander Waterford’s (Joseph Fiennes) murder and the consequences she must face for her role in the gruesome slaying. At a minimum, she will have to face off with his widow Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and, on some level Gilead. But mainly, she will be forced to redefine her identity and purpose, now forever changed.
Meanwhile, Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) works with Nick (Max Minghella) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) as he tries to reform Gilead and rise to power. But who knows what the Commander and Nick—who helped June get her hands on Waterford for the kill—have up their sleeves? Still in Canada, June, with the help of Luke (O.T. Fagbenle) and Moira (Samira Wiley), fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah. The fifth season also stars Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, and McKenna Grace.
The Handmaid’s Tale: Where to stream the series?
Right now, you can watch The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu and Hulu Plus with a selection of membership tiers from which viewers can pick according to their preferences. 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 on Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, and Amazon Instant Video based on the location of the viewer.
Catch up on the previous seasons while you wait for the latest season to premiere on Hulu. And let us know in the comments section if you are already excited about the renewal of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6.