The Handmaid’s Tale Both the cast and fans are preparing to say goodbye to the series during its sixth and final season.

Based on Margaret Atwoodthe novel of the same name by ‘s, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian future where low fertility rates force women to be assigned to men to have children. Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, OT Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley And Amanda Brugel have led the cast since the show’s premiere in 2017.

The series also became a critical success and was nominated for several awards over the years. The Handmaid’s Tale was notably the first show produced by Hulu to win a major award and the first series on a streaming network to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

Despite The Handmaid’s Tale the universe is ending, it’s expanding with Atwood’s 2019 novel The TestamentsIt was previously announced that Hulu and MGM were developing the sequel series, but no news has been released on that yet.

Keep scrolling for everything we know so far about season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale:

When will Hulu release season 6 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’?

The Handmaid’s Tale was renewed in 2022, shortly before Season 5 premiered. However, filming was delayed due to the dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and Moss’ real-life pregnancy.

Disney TV boss Craig Erwich told Deadline in 2024 that production would begin in the summer, with the final season set to premiere a year later. An exact 2025 release date has not yet been announced.

Who will return and who will participate in the final season?

The above mentioned main cast is expected to return, along with returning actors Bradley Whitford, Sam Jaeger And Always Carradine. For season 6, Josh Charles was cast in a series regular role, but no details about his character have been released.

Alexis Bledel is not expected to return after leaving before Season 5.

Where does the story continue?

The fifth season ended with June (Moss) and Serena Joy (Strahovski) both fleeing Toronto to Vancouver.

Amidst Toronto’s growing anti-refugee movement, June was targeted by a fleeing driver, and her husband, Luke (Fagbenle), brutally attacked the assailant. The Gilead supporter, a native Canadian, did not survive his injuries, and June and Luke knew the attention and threats to their safety would only get worse. They decided to leave for Vancouver, but authorities at the train station were already looking for Luke. He convinced June to board the train without him, taking baby Nichole with her. June is surprised to see Serena (with baby Noah) asking her for a diaper.

It’s unclear what happens next — and the book that served as inspiration didn’t exactly help predict the series’ ending. Atwood’s novel ended with protagonist Offred — whose real name was never revealed — being taken away in a van.

After the first season adapted the entire book, Hulu’s version went beyond what was on the page. Where Serena and June go from here is anyone’s guess.

What do the cast members want to expect from the ending?

“June is going to find out who she is and who she’s going to be for the rest of her life,” Moss said She in November 2022 about her character’s potential storylines for the final season.

Moss indicated that the final season will revolve around a fight that is “not just about one individual.” According to Moss, fans shouldn’t expect a happy ending. He added, “I don’t think we feel obligated to wrap up the whole story of Gilead.”

What changes were happening behind the scenes?

Showrunner Bruce Miller has been with The Handmaid’s Tale since its premiere in 2017. For Season 6, Miller previewed his vision for the series’ ending.

“We’re ending our show on our own creative terms,” he said Entertainment weekly in 2022. “Do I know what happens in season 6? Yeah, I’ve thought about the things that happen in season 6.”

However, Miller stepped down as showrunner in 2023. He is expected to remain a writer and executive producer, but he passed his duties to executive producers. Eric Tuchman And Yahlin Chang.