‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Officially Returning for Season Five

The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed for season five, with season four due to air in 2021.

Hulu announced on 10th December that the series would carry on past the fourth season, letting fans of the series breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the show’s end isn’t quite in sight yet. The series is based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, focusing on the totalitarian nation of Gilead (once the United States), where women are reduced to being child-bearing Handmaids with no rights.

The show’s star Elisabeth Moss shared the news on Instagram, along with her fellow cast Alexis Bledel, Samira Wiley, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Madeline Brewer, Max Minghella, Amanda Brugel, Bradley Whitford, O.T. Fagbenle and Ann Dowd.

Moss also wrote on Instagram earlier this year that production of season four was shut down after the outbreak of COVID-19: “We shut down production of season four in order to preserve the health and safety of our cast and crew and join the world in an attempt to flatten the curve. This show is my life and this cast and crew is my family. Nothing is more important than making sure they and everyone around them is safe. We hope to be back in production as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

The fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale will feature ten episodes. Creator Bruce Miller told the Hollywood Reporter; “We’re very grateful to Hulu and MGM that the show will be returning for a fifth season, and especially to our loyal fans for their support.” Miller also told fans of the show to expect the next season to revolve around “freedom”.

The Emmy-winning show is looking to pick up on season three’s cliffhanger, when June/Offred (Elisabeth Moss) was swept away by her fellow handmaids after the children successfully escaped to Canada. Now that June has had a little taste of freedom, what does she do next? 

Miller advised that the series is reaching its pivotal point with Hulu picking up a fifth season, but whether this means it’s the end of the line for the show remains to be seen. However, due to the current climate, the writers, Miller, and Elizabeth Moss are looking to reassess what the fifth season will bring. Until then, all we can do is anticipate the fourth season, coming soon in 2021. Praise be.

Words by Asiyo Ali