The Handmaid's Tale season 6: Release date, cast, plot, trailer and latest news

Speaking last week at PaleyFest LA, Chang said (via Variety): "I only want to end with victory and feelings of hope and triumph and uplift."

She added that the writers wanted the final season to be "a love letter to our fans" and said that "you guys have really stuck with us through thick and thin".

Of course, the series has spanned some serious political conversation and, reflecting on the fact that the final season will be airing during a challenging period, Bradley Whitford said (via The Hollywood Reporter): "It is very weird that this show started shooting in 2016; here we are, unthinkable things have happened and we’re bewildered right now."

More recently, it was confirmed that UK viewers will be able to tune into the sixth and final instalment and it's now been confirmed that the final chapter will be coming to Channel 4.

As of yet, a release date hasn't been confirmed so we don't yet know whether we'll be getting episodes at the same time as the US or not.

However, there's plenty to look forward to after the final season trailer teased quite the epic end.

Rebellion is well and truly on the horizon and as well as some insight into how June (Elisabeth Moss) plans to take down Gilead and those who were instrumental in creating it, the new trailer also shows Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) enjoying a large-scale wedding of her own.

While many may be wondering just who Serena will be getting wed to, the trailer gives us our first look at a new character played by The Good Wife’s Josh Charles, who was previously announced as joining the final season's cast. But it doesn't look as though it's all plain-sailing for the pair as Serena is seen yelling at him, referring to him as "just like the rest of them".

Largely though, the trailer tells us that the sixth and final season of the hit series will be all-out war, with June leading the charge. The synchronised pulling out of knives by the handmaids signals that things could get bloodier than ever before – but as for who will survive, we'll have to wait and see.

Thankfully, if you've forgotten some of the details of the previous five seasons then Hulu has helpfully put together a recap video of the stories and characters that have underpinned the show so far.

You can watch that below.

But when will the final sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale be released? Read on to find out.

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 release date: When will it air?

The first three episodes will arrive in the US on Hulu on Tuesday 8th April.

Episodes will then air weekly until the finale on Tuesday 27th May.

It's now also been confirmed that the final season of The Handmaid's Tale will be airing on Channel 4 in the UK, with seasons 1-5 also set to be available to stream on Channel 4 ahead of the final series launch.

Will The Handmaid's Tale end with season 6?

Unfortunately, yes.

Season 6 was given the green light back in September 2022 ahead of the season 5 premiere, when it was confirmed that it would be the last season.

"It has been a true honour to tell the story of Margaret Atwood's groundbreaking novel and chillingly relevant world, and we are thrilled to bring viewers a sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale," showrunner Bruce Miller said in a press release.

"We are grateful to Hulu and MGM for allowing us to tell this story, which unfortunately has remained as relevant as ever throughout its run, and are in awe of our incredible fans for their unwavering support, and without whom we never would have gotten to this point."

The cast also released the following statement in line with the announcement: "When we started this journey in season 1, we bore no more. In season 2, we reclaimed our name. In season 3, we set ourselves free. In season 4, we prayed together. In season 5, you'll see how some sins can't be washed away.

"And as to season 6, our sixth and final season, well, you'll just have to wait and see. We can't thank you enough for supporting the show over the years. Much love to you all. Under his eye."

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 cast news: Who's returning?

The main cast for season 6 is as follows:

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
• Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence
• Max Minghella as Nick
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke
• Samira Wiley as Moira
• Madeline Brewer as Janine
• Amanda Brugel as Rita
• Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Lawrence (née Putnam)
• Josh Charles as TBC
• D'Arcy Carden as TBC

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 plot: What could happen?

"In the final season, June's unyielding spirit and determination pull her back into the fight to take down Gilead," reads The official logline.

"Luke and Moira join the resistance, Serena tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick faces challenging tests of character.

"This final chapter of June’s journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom.

Speaking about his hopes for the final season, Miller said (via Business Insider): "I just want it to be a solid season. But I also have been watching other shows end successfully or unsuccessfully, and I've got to take those lessons.

"I just want every episode to be solid, and therefore I want every scene to be solid. And that's all I'm thinking about. And if it doesn't feel like the finale of a show, that's okay. The beginning of it didn't feel like the beginning of a show either."

At the end of season 5, June and Serena crossed paths on a train heading to Vancouver – and hopefully onwards to Hawaii – which raises questions about what their dynamic will look like in the next chapter. Will they find themselves working together?

"When we played out Serena's story, it seemed so logical, given June's story, that they'd probably end up in the same place," Miller told The Hollywood Reporter. "They're both trying to anonymously flee Toronto among a crowd of people. How many options do you have?

"I thought this is where Serena would end up before I thought this was where June would end up. It did feel like they were not running toward each other but running toward the same spot."

But while June is currently free, Luke was captured after handing himself in to spare her and Nichole – although we know that he manages to escape and joins the resistance.

There's also Nick, who found himself in hot water after assaulting Commander Lawrence. And his pregnant wife has also chosen to distance herself from him.

"[With] Nick, the problem is he tries to stay out of trouble, and now he can't because the thing that's pulling him back to trouble is June," Miller told Entertainment Weekly.

"I feel like this is the most romantic Nick/June season ever because they spend the whole time trying to convince themselves that they don't need to be together. And by the end, they are not successful at all, they fail entirely... but they're so in love, they can't think about anything else."

And we can't forget Janine, who has been taken by The Eyes, leaving Aunt Lydia heartbroken.

"Janine is channeling her inner June, and look at the consequences," Miller told EW.

"But being picked up by The Eyes can mean a lot of things. They have for a long time wanted Janine to be useful and reproductive, and if she isn't doing that at the Red Centre, they will move her somewhere else. And they're not very polite about it.

"But she also could just get pulled out and shot in the middle of the street. It's that kind of place."

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 trailer: Can I watch it?

The official trailer has now been released, teasing some serious rebellion – and we cannot wait.

Enjoy it below.

The Handmaid's Tale airs on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial.

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