Hulu has released the official trailer for season five of its acclaimed dystopian drama series, The Handmaid’s Tale. Picking up from the shocking season 4 finale, The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 sees June Osborne (Elizabeth Moss) fighting back against the oppressive Gilead while trying to reunite with her daughter. You can watch the trailer below.
The official plot synopsis for The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 reads:
"June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford while struggling to redefine her identity and purpose. The widowed Serena attempts to raise her profile in Toronto as Gilead’s influence creeps into Canada. Commander Lawrence works with Nick and Aunt Lydia as he tries to reform Gilead and rise in power. June, Luke and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah."
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 appears to be the most explosive and bleakest one yet. As June goes on the warpath after killing Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), Gilead, now led by Waterford’s widow, Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), has no choice but to hit back with all its might. June, on the other hand, appears to be consumed by vengeance in her mission to bring down Gilead. "He [Fred] was a monster. He took away our country. He had to pay for what he did. I killed him and I loved it so much," June tells Luke (O-T Fagbenle) in the trailer before adding, "I need her [Serena] to know it was me."
Serena is also ready for war, and now miraculously pregnant, she plans to weaponize her husband’s death to crush the former Handmaids. Serena was unable to conceive, and a major part of her arc and her horrid treatment of June was due to her infertility and desire to have a baby. It will be interesting to see the new dynamic between Serena and June in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, with both being driven by grief and vengeance.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 marks the return of series regulars Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, and Sam Jaeger, with new additions Christine Ko and Genevieve Angelson.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will debut on Hulu on September 14 with a two-episode premiere. The rest of the eight episodes will follow weekly.
The Handmaid’s Tale Could Continue Beyond Season 5
Based on Margaret Atwood’s eponymous novel, The Handmaid’s Tale has been a massive success for Hulu, winning several Emmys and earning overwhelming acclaim from viewers and critics alike. However, like all good things, The Handmaid’s Tale is nearing its conclusion, and season 5 could be the last, though there is no confirmation yet. Executive producer Warren Littlefield told Deadline recently that The Handmaid’s Tale could return if creator Bruce Miller has more stories to tell.
"I think from day one the quest has been to have a powerful, dramatic narrative that, with June taking up the fight, we, as an audience, stand united with June, and June gives us hope. Well, she hasn’t given up and we can’t give up. I think it’s a powerful, powerful message that despite all that June is up against in Gilead, there’s a ray of hope in her fight and determinism. I think that’s valuable and important, we are still relevant, and so long as Bruce and the writing staff feel there’s more to tell then that’s what we’re going to do."