Hulu’s Hit Dystopian Sci-fi Sequel Series Officially Renewed for Season 2 (But How Long Can It Go?)

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Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, published in 1985, became a classic of dystopian fiction. In 2017, it was adapted into a highly acclaimed television series on Hulu, starring Elisabeth Moss as June Osborn. The show ran for six seasons, concluding in 2025, and won numerous Emmy Awards while building a dedicated following. The success of the series was so significant that it inspired Atwood to write a sequel, The Testaments, which won the Booker Prize in 2019. Hulu quickly began working on a television adaptation of The Testaments as well, featuring a new cast of younger women living under Gilead’s rule, and the series premiered in April 2026.

Hulu has announced that The Testaments will return for a second season, just a week before the first season ends on May 27th. The decision to renew the show is based on its strong performance, with viewers worldwide watching over 45 million hours of the series on Hulu and Disney+. Each episode has consistently attracted more viewers than the last. Season one centers on Agnes (Chase Infiniti) and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), two young women experiencing life in Gilead from different perspectives. Agnes is a devout teenager being raised within the system, while Daisy comes from outside Gilead’s borders. Ann Dowd returns as Aunt Lydia, and Elisabeth Moss makes a special guest appearance as June Osborn from The Handmaid’s Tale.

Hulu’s The Testaments Risks Repeating the Mistakes of The Handmaid’s Tale

After the first season of The Handmaid’s Tale finished adapting Margaret Atwood’s novel, the show’s creators had to develop their own storylines within the established world of Gilead, with Atwood’s ongoing input and approval. While the show maintained a dedicated audience over six seasons, critical opinions became more mixed. Some reviewers felt that later seasons introduced plot points that didn’t quite fit with the carefully constructed world of the first season and that the show relied too heavily on shocking depictions of the characters’ suffering without adding meaningful depth to the story. Ultimately, many felt the series continued beyond its creative peak, losing the strong momentum of its initial season.

Like its predecessor, The Testaments presents a challenge for adaptation. Atwood’s 2019 novel was written alongside the creators of The Handmaid’s Tale television series, with a future adaptation in mind. However, it’s a complete story with its own ending, and the first season of the show has already covered much of the book’s content. While the original Handmaid’s Tale series adapted one full novel before moving beyond the source material, The Testaments risks running out of book content early in Season 2, forcing the writers to create entirely new storylines. The showrunner believes there’s enough material for several seasons, but that claim will be put to the test as the show seeks renewal.

The Testaments Season 1 finale streams on Hulu on May 27, 2026.

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2026-05-21 15:12