“The Testaments”: First Look at ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Spinoff Coming April 2026
It has been a long, agonizing wait for fans of the dystopian powerhouse that is “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Since the original series concluded, there has been a massive void in the world of high-stakes television drama. However, the silence has finally broken.
First Look at “The Testaments” Reveals a Dark New Chapter for “The Handmaid’s Tale” Universe
Set to premiere in April 2026, “The Testaments” promises to take us back to Gilead, but the perspective has shifted dramatically. We are jumping forward in time—15 years, to be exact after “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The story is no longer solely about the women who remember the “time before.” Instead, it focuses on the children who were molded by the regime.
The official logline of “The Testaments,” as reported by Variety, describes the series as a “coming of age story that finds a new generation of young women in Gilead grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.” This is the most chilling aspect of the new series. For the original Handmaids, the horror was in the loss of their freedom. For these new protagonists, the horror is that they don’t know what freedom looks like.
A New Generation of Gilead Women
For these new protagonists in “The Testaments,” the horror is that they don’t know what freedom looks like. That’s a new level of horror like the women who lost their freedom in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Variety notes that “growing up in Gilead is all they have ever known, having no tangible memories of the outside world prior to their indoctrination into this life.”
The first-look photos released by Disney+ and Hulu showcase this shift visually. The iconic red robes are gone. The young women, including the lead characters, are seen wearing purple. It’s a striking departure that signals a new hierarchy and a new set of rules within the theocracy.
The Return of Hannah and Nichole
The emotional core of The Handmaid’s Tale was always June Osborne’s desperate fight for her daughters. In “The Testaments,” those daughters take center stage. The series features Chase Infiniti as Agnes and Lucy Halliday as Daisy.
For those who haven’t read the book, Agnes is the Gilead name for Hannah, the daughter June had with Luke, who was stolen in the very first season. Daisy is the alias for Nichole, the baby born to June and Nick, who was smuggled out to Canada. Seeing Hannah grown up is going to be an emotional gut-punch for long-time viewers.
Chase Infiniti, who plays the adult Hannah/Agnes, understands the weight of this role. In an interview with Deadline, Infiniti expressed her excitement about stepping into such big shoes. She said on Deadline, “I play Hannah or Agnes, who is such a beloved character in the story and in the fandom. So I’m excited for people to get to see how her story continues to unfold.”
Infiniti is currently having a massive breakout moment in Hollywood, recently scoring a Golden Globe nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” Her involvement in “The Testaments” adds a serious layer of star power and acting credibility to the project. It wouldn’t be Gilead without the terrifying presence of Aunt Lydia. Variety confirmed that Ann Dowd is reprising her Emmy-winning role. However, given that this story takes place years later, her relationship with the “daughters” of Gilead—specifically Agnes—is likely to be complex.
Final Thoughts
Behind the camera, the continuity is strong. Bruce Miller, the architect of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” adaptation, created “The Testaments” and serves as showrunner. He is joined by executive producer Elisabeth Moss, ensuring that the DNA of the original show remains intact even as the story evolves. The new series is set to premiere on Hulu in April 2026. Until then, we are left to wonder: can these young women truly break free from a cage they were born into?
