With its Season 5 to premiere soon on Hulu, The Handmaid's Tale has been renewed for one more season, which will wrap up the series.
The news that Season 6 will be the final one was reported by Variety. The Handmaid's Tale, which stars Elisabeth Moss as June, will return on Sep. 14 with a two-part season premiere, which will lay the groundwork for the ending.
Bruce Miller, the creator and showrunner of The Handmaid's Tale, issued a statement about the show's oncoming conclusion. "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 of The Handmaid’s Tale," Miller said, adding, "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."
Miller, who is also known as a screenwriter for The 100, is now developing a sequel series for The Handmaid's Tale, titled The Testaments.
What's The Handmaid's Tale's Story?
The Handmaid's Tale is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, set in a dystopian future United States. Renamed Gilead, the totalitarian society forces fertile women to serve men and bear children as its solution to falling fertility rates. The show has been a critical and commercial success since it premiered in 2017, earning eight Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, referenced these awards in his own statement, saying, "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."
A trailer for Season 5 of the series arrived in August, highlighting the confrontation between June and the forces of Gilead that has been brewing from the beginning. There was also a glimpse of the aftermath of Season 4's brutal finale, in which the former Handmaids of Gilead gathered together and chased down Commander Waterford, killing him to keep him from escaping the consequences of his crimes.
Season 5 of The Handmaid's Tale is scheduled to premiere on Hulu on Sept. 14.
Source: Variety