It’s the end of the line for Gilead — and June Osborne isn’t going quietly.
Hulu just dropped the long-awaited trailer for the sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, and whew, it’s a lot to unpack.
This season promises full-blown warfare. Handmaids with guns. Resistance fighters ready to burn it all down. Gilead is spiraling, and everyone’s trying to figure out where they land in the rubble.
Here’s what we do know: Season 6 will track June’s relentless mission to bring Gilead to its knees, with Luke and Moira (Samira Wiley) joining the resistance. Serena’s aiming to reshape Gilead (good luck with that), while Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) and Aunt Lydia are forced to reckon with the monster they helped build. And Nick? He’s still caught between love and loyalty — and the cost is catching up.
After a long delay (shoutout to those 2023 strikes), the dystopian drama returns April 8 with a three-episode premiere — and if this new footage is anything to go by, we’re in for one final, fiery ride.
The trailer wastes no time setting the tone. “For years, we’ve been afraid of them. Now, it’s time for them to be afraid of us.” With that line, June (Elisabeth Moss) declares that the revolution isn’t coming — it’s here. Gilead’s days are numbered, but the cost of freedom? It’s looking steep.
We see June reunited with Luke (O-T Fagbenle), both seemingly on the move and heading straight into the lion’s den. How they got back together is a mystery — especially after that Season 5 cliffhanger that had June hopping on a train out of Canada while Luke was being hauled away by police. But reunion or not, it’s clear June’s torn between her two complicated loves: Luke and Nick (Max Minghella), who, as always, is still putting his neck on the line for her.
Then there’s Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), the show’s perennial wildcard. Not only is she back in Gilead, she’s rocking a baby blue gown and walking down the aisle. Her new husband? None other than newcomer Josh Charles’ mystery character, who seems to be stepping into commander territory. Whether he’s friend or foe is anyone’s guess, but Serena’s new chapter looks just as twisted as her last.
Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) also makes an appearance — rattled and raging — and it’s clear she knows who’s pulling the strings behind the rebellion. Spoiler: it’s June. Again.
Bruce Miller, who created the series and served as showrunner through Season 5, has passed the torch to longtime EPs Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang so he can focus on developing the sequel series The Testaments. But don’t worry — he’s still writing and producing, and promises that this ending is on their terms.
As Miller told EW, “We are ending our show on our own creative terms… and yes, I’ve been thinking about Season 6 for a while.” Translation: they’ve got something planned, and it’s not just a bow on top.
Let’s be real — The Handmaid’s Tale has never been an easy watch. But it has been a groundbreaking one. Since its debut, the series has racked up Emmys, Golden Globes, and a passionate following for its unflinching look at patriarchy, power, and survival. It may be fiction, but it’s hit uncomfortably close to home more than once.
Season 6 will run for 10 episodes, with new installments dropping weekly on Tuesdays after the April 8 premiere, wrapping up on May 27.
The main cast is all here for one last ride: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Bradley Whitford, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, Madeline Brewer, Ever Carradine (now a series regular), and Josh Charles.
And for those wondering what’s next after the final curtain drops — Hulu is inching closer to greenlighting The Testaments, based on Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel. The spinoff is set 15 years after The Handmaid’s Tale and will center on Aunt Lydia (Dowd), as well as new characters Agnes and Daisy. Bruce Miller’s at the helm again, with Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday set to co-star.
So yes — Gilead might fall, but the story isn’t quite over.
Until then, grab your red robes and your patience — the final countdown begins April 8.
Where to Watch:
Catch up on The Handmaid’s Tale Seasons 1–5 now streaming on Hulu. Season 6 premieres April 8 with a three-episode drop, followed by weekly releases every Tuesday.