Created by Bruce Miller Original language(s) English | Country of origin United States | |
Starring Elisabeth MossSamira WileyJoseph FiennesYvonne Strahovski Executive producer(s) Bruce MillerDaniel WilsonFran SearsWarren Littlefield | ||
The Handmaid's Tale is an upcoming American television series based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. It has been ordered by streaming service Hulu with a straight-to-series order, with the production beginning in late 2016.
Contents
The first three episodes of the series will premiere on April 26, 2017, with subsequent episodes added on a weekly basis. In Canada, the series will be broadcast by Bravo, beginning with the first two episodes premiering on April 30.
Plot
In a dystopian near-future, the totalitarian and Christian-fundamentalist government of Gilead rules the former United States amidst an ongoing civil war and subjugates women, who are not allowed to work, control money, or even read. Widespread infertility due to environmental contamination has resulted in the forced conscription of young fertile women—called Handmaids, according to biblical precedent—who are assigned to the homes of the elite, where they are expected to have ritualized sex with the men in order to become pregnant and bear children for the men and their wives.
Offred—the name representing the fact that her master is named Fred and that she is subject to him—has been posted to the home of an elite Commander and his wife, under the strictest rules and constant scrutiny; an improper word or deed on her part can lead to her execution. Offred can remember the "time before" when she was married with a daughter and had her own name, but all she can safely do now is follow the rules of Gilead in hope that she can someday live freely.
Cast
Production
A straight-to-series order by Hulu of The Handmaid's Tale was announced in April 2016, with Elisabeth Moss set to star. Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the series was created by Bruce Miller, who is also an executive producer with Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Warren Littlefield. Atwood served as consulting producer, and had a small cameo role. In June 2016, Reed Morano was announced as director of the series. Samira Wiley, Max Minghella, and Ann Dowd joined the cast in July 2016. Joseph Fiennes, Madeline Brewer and Yvonne Strahovski were cast in August 2016, followed by O.T. Fagbenle and Amanda Brugel in September 2016. In October 2016, Ever Carradine joined the cast, and Alexis Bledel was added in January 2017.
Filming on the series took place in Toronto from September 2016 to February 2017. The first full trailer of the TV series was released by Hulu on YouTube on March 23, 2017. The series will premiere on April 26, 2017.