The Testaments, the highly anticipated sequel to the dystopian seriesThe Handmaid’s Tale, announces its full cast and production details. Based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel of the same name,The Testamentsis setmore than 15 years after the events in the main series. Produced by Bruce Miller and Warren Littlefield,The Handmaid’s Tale’s lead, Elisabeth Moss, who plays June Osborne, will serve as an executive producer on the spinoff.

Huluhas officially announcedThe Testamentsis moving forward with a photo of the cast, confirmingproduction will start on April 7. In addition to the previously announced stars — Chase Infiniti (Agnes), Lucy Halliday (Daisy), Ann Dowd (reprising herThe Handmaid’s Talerole as Aunt Lydia), Rowan Blanchard (Shunammite), Mattea Conforti (Becka) — the cast also adds nine new actors, including Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. Check out the social media post below:

Aunt Lydia (Anne Dowd) looking serious in The Handmaid’s Tale with The Testaments book cover art behind her

What This Means For The Testaments

June’s Fate Is Kept Under Wraps

While the first BTS photo offers a broad look at the full cast and the characters they’ll be playing,it doesn’t confirm whether Moss will reprise her role in the follow-up series. While June is mentioned in the book, Moss has shared that she isn’t expecting to appear inThe Testaments,while adding she wouldn’t reveal the truth if she was featured in the upcoming spinoff, leaving it a mystery. Meanwhile,The Handmaid’s Tale’s sixth and final seasonwill arrive on April 8, which puts this announcement just ahead of the show’s return.

5 Ways The Testaments TV Show Is Already Different From The Handmaid’s Tale Sequel Book

Margaret Atwood penned The Testaments while Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale was airing, which means the Testaments adaptation will have some differences.

The swift news and the confirmed production start date also suggest thatit won’t take very long for the dystopian world of Gilead to returnfollowingThe Handmaid’s Tale’s ending. In Atwood’s follow-up novel — which revolves around two young girls, Agnes (June’s daughter) and Daisy,and Aunt Lydia, who is revealed to be a mole for Mayday — the three women recount their journey forging alliances and relationships while fighting for freedom. With production getting underway soon,The Testamentscould premiere as early as next year.

Aunt Lydia looking worried in The Handmaid’s Tale.

Our Take On The Testaments

The Testaments Expands The Story In The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Taleprimarily follows June’s point of view and her journey as a handmaid. While the show has offered great insight into the world of Gilead through June’s eyes, there’s so much more left unseen from her perspective. By telling the follow-up story ofthree different women both inside and outside Gilead, fans can expect a more immersive experience within Atwood’s dystopian world in the upcomingThe Handmaid’s Talesequel.

Originally announced in 2019, the sequel series has taken a long time to come to fruition, but with its official announcement coming right around the timeThe Handmaid’s Taleis about to return for its final season, it takes off some pressure and sadness around the event. It also serves as a promise that the story of Gilead will continue inThe Testaments, which could be heavily teased within the final episodes ofThe Handmaid’s Tale.

Margaret Atwood TV Series Temp Poster