Margaret Atwood's sequel to The Handmaid's Tale hasn't even reached bookshelves yet, but already Hulu and MGM are developing the book, titled The Testaments, for the screen.
Time reports that The Handmaid's Tale showrunner Bruce Miller is currently in conversations to determine how Atwood's new book could become "an important extension" to the series, which recently concluded its third season. It's still undetermined whether the events of the new novel will be incorporated into the original Hulu series or developed as a potential new show.
Everything We Know About The Handmaid's Tale Season 4
Atwood's new novel The Testaments, which will be released Sept. 10, picks up 15 years after the original book left Offred's (portrayed by Elisabeth Moss in the Hulu series) future in question and is narrated by three female characters from Gilead -- including Aunt Lydia, played in the Hulu series by Ann Dowd. Upon announcing her sequel to the seminal 1985 novel, Atwood revealed that she was inspired to write the book based on the questions she received from readers about Gilead -- as well as the current state of affairs in real life.
Atwood told Time that the book could serve as inspiration for how to extend the show's version of The Handmaid's Tale beyond June's perspective, saying, "They can't keep Offred in Gilead for many more seasons, or a certain amount of wheel spinning will be going on. They have to move her along -- and I've given them lots of ways of how that would happen."
Considering how fatiguing The Handmaid's Tale has become as it continues to extend Atwood's original story, perhaps these fresh perspectives will give the series -- or its spin-off -- some new intrigue. In the meantime, The Handmaid's Tale still has at least one more season ahead, as Hulu renewed the series for Season 4 before its third season finale aired.
The Handmaid's Tale Seasons 1-3 are currently streaming on Hulu.
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale" data-image-credit="Sophie Giraud, Hulu" data-image-alt-text="Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale" data-image-credit-url="" data-image-target-url="" data-image-title="Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale" data-image-filename="190815-elisabeth-moss-the-handmaids-tale.jpg" data-image-date-created="2019/08/15" data-image-crop="" data-image-crop-gravity="" data-image-aspect-ratio="" data-image-height="1380" data-image-width="2070" data-image-do-not-crop="" data-image-do-not-resize="" data-image-watermark="" data-lightbox="">Other Links From TVGuide.com The Handmaid's TaleMargaret Atwood