Hulu has renewed “The Handmaid’s Tale” for a fifth season, Walt Disney Television entertainment chairman Dana Walden announced Thursday at Disney Investor Day 2020. We still do not have a premiere date for Season 4.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is Hulu’s No. 1 original series.
Production on Season 4 of the Elisabeth Moss-led drama was just getting underway in Canada back in March when it was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The show’s fourth season was originally expected to premiere in Fall 2020.
However, Season 4 is now back in production in Canada, the cast said Thursday in a video touting the renewal news. Readers can find that clip at the bottom of this post.
Here’s the official logline from Hulu about Season 4: “In the upcoming fourth season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ June (Moss) strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader, but the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships. The 10-episode fourth season will premiere in 2021.”
“The Handmaid’s Tale” was renewed for Season 4 in July 2019, ahead of its Season 3 finale last Aug. 14. The dystopian drama’s third installment launched in June 2019, which made it ineligible for last year’s Emmys. Seasons 1 and 2 premiered in April 2017 and April 2018, respectively.
Along with Moss, the series stars Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, Alexis Bledel, Ann Dowd, Max Minghella, Madeline Brewer, O-T Fagbenle, Amanda Brugel and Bradley Whitford.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is executive produced by Moss, Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Eric Tuchman, John Weber, Sheila Hockin and Frank Siracusa. The series hails from MGM Television.
There was a ton of news announced at Disney’s annual event on Thursday. Earlier on, we got an update on Hulu’s subscriber count, as well as fresh subscription numbers for Disney+ and ESPN+.
As of Dec. 2, Hulu had 38.8 million subscribers, ESPN+ had 11.5 million subscribers and Disney+ boasted 86.8 million subscribers.
Watch the “Handmaid’s Tale” cast get all excited about being back at work — and, of course, the Season 5 renewal news — below.
✨The cast has a special message for you ✨
Season 4 returns in 2021 …oh and praise be, we’ve also been renewed for Season 5! #HandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/B8GauXz5yf— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) December 10, 2020
“We are back,” indeed.