The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6: What to Expect from the Final Chapter

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Release Date

The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu’s critically acclaimed series, is heading into its sixth and final season. The show's production officially kicked off, with the new season expected to premiere in Spring 2025.

Returning Cast and New Faces

As per a report by TV Insider, Season 6 will see the return of key cast members, including Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne, Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford, and Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia. Other familiar faces returning include O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole, Max Minghella as Nick Blaine, and Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence. Actress Ever Carradine, who portrays Naomi Lawrence, has been promoted to a series regular, indicating her character’s significant role in the final season.

Not all characters are confirmed to return. Madeline Brewer’s Janine Lindo, who was last seen being taken away by Gilead's enforcers, remains uncertain, while Emmy winner Alexis Bledel, who portrayed Emily, is not expected to return after her departure in Season 5.

Adding a fresh element to the final season, Josh Charles joins the cast, though details about his character are being kept under wraps.

Plot Developments and Expectations

The Season 5 finale left fans on edge with multiple cliffhangers. June Osborne, along with her daughter Nichole, was seen fleeing on a train bound for Vancouver, while her husband Luke was arrested after defending her. In a surprising twist, Serena Joy, with her infant son Noah, also boarded the same train, setting up a potential confrontation or uneasy alliance between the two women.

The new season promises to explore the aftermath of these events, focusing on June’s quest for identity and survival. According to the report by TV Insider, Elisabeth Moss hinted that June’s struggle is about more than just her personal battles.

Meanwhile, showrunner Bruce Miller suggested that while June and Serena may find common ground, their fundamental differences will keep them on opposing sides.

Creative Changes and Future Directions

Behind the scenes, Bruce Miller, the original showrunner, is stepping down to focus on adapting The Testaments, the sequel to Margaret Atwood’s novel. He will remain involved as a writer and executive producer, with Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang taking over showrunner duties.

Finale Speculations and Connection to ‘The Testaments’

With The Handmaid’s Tale drawing to a close, speculation abounds about how closely the series will align with The Testaments, which is set 15 years after the events of the original story.

While The Testaments serves as a sequel in the literary world, Bruce Miller has indicated that the show will not necessarily follow the book’s narrative strictly. He emphasized that the television series remains focused on June’s journey, not Gilead as a whole, suggesting that the conclusion will be more about her personal resolution than a direct lead-in to The Testaments.