The Handmaid’s Tale star reveals whether her character will return for sequel series The Testaments

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The Handmaid’s Tale‘s Samira Wiley has said she will “absolutely not” return for The Testaments.

The sequel series, titled like Margaret Atwood’s 2019 book, unfolds approximately four to five years following the Elisabeth Moss-led drama. This new installment focuses on three characters – Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), Agnes, and Daisy – whose lives converge as they challenge the oppressive regime of Gilead by rebelling against it.

For quite some time now, I’ve been involved with this show, discussing trauma repeatedly, engaging in discussions about how the show mirrors global and national events, but lately, I find myself growing disinterested in continuing these conversations.

“Margaret Atwood is truly remarkable, and it brings me great joy to be associated with her in some way. However, looking ahead, I wish to craft a new type of narrative. Don’t get me wrong; I still believe there’s immense worth in the stories we’ve already told, but as an artist, I feel like I’ve given enough of myself through my work on set.” (This paraphrase retains the original meaning and is more conversational in tone.)

Wiley continued by admitting she hadn’t always been fully cognizant of the physical and mental strain she was under, but she’s making an effort to pay closer attention. She’s glad for this newfound awareness.

Wiley confessed she didn’t often realize how much stress she was experiencing in her body and mind, but now she’s trying harder to notice and is happy she’s more aware of it today.

As Wiley leaves Gilead behind, she enters a new realm with Sky Atlantic’s show Atomic. This series delves into the world described in the non-fiction book The Atomic Bazaar, which examines how nuclear weapons have become widely accessible – with impoverished nations and unofficial terror groups seeking to acquire them.

The five-part series narrates the story of Max, a free-spirited drug smuggler portrayed by Alfie Allen, and JJ, an enigmatic outsider played by Shazad Latif. They find themselves embroiled in a dangerous, high-stakes venture involving the transportation of highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East.

However, with the CIA, MI6, and an extensive network of adversarial groups rapidly approaching, Wiley assumes the role of a covert CIA operative named Cassie Elliott. This character is certain that Max and JJ have some connection to radical militants.

When discussing her preparations for the character, Wiley expressed that she found it intriguing to delve into what drove Cassie towards taking on the role of a Non-Official Cover (NOC) agent.

She clarified that when working for the CIA, there are various types of field operatives. Some are official cover agents, meaning their country would intervene to rescue them if they were in danger. However, Cassie is a different type of agent, not one who operates under such protective measures.

What intrigues me is the individual who relinquishes everything – identity, family, homeland, security. This person is none other than Cassie. I’m filled with curiosity, not just about her story, but also about real-life individuals who make such choices. Who are these people who embrace this path in life?

Intrigue fueled my contemplation of Cassie’s youth, her bonds perhaps severed by experiences so profoundly painful they compelled her to take a perilous path. “Could it be that the weight of her past hurt was overwhelming, driving her to conclude: Farewell is the only choice, and I must risk daily danger.

While it might seem drastic, Wiley suggests that Cassie is primarily motivated by the desire to demonstrate her capabilities, not just to others, but most importantly to herself. She further explains this by stating that as she bids farewell to everyone else, it’s essentially an attempt to prove something significant to herself.

It has become clear to me that our lifestyle, interactions, thought processes, and physical actions are significantly shaped by early relationships, past traumas, neglect, and other formative experiences. In the case of Cassie, her perception of self-worth and her viewpoint towards the world were first established within the confines of her childhood home.

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2025-08-27 14:16