Don't make us wait. Please.
Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde
Despite the clear gender gap in Hollywood highlighted by the Emmy nominations, this year has been a breakthrough for female-led TV series. We've been hooked to Big Little Lies, Insecure and the final season ever of Girls (sob).
But it didn't stop there. The Handmaid's Tale hit our screens and absolutely everyone was obsessed. The series is based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel about a society where women have no rights. Every week, millions of viewers tuned in to see how Offred fared in the repressive Gilead, and the season finale left us wondering whether or not Elisabeth Moss' character was ushered to safety - or to some place much worse than the Waterford household.
Thankfully Hulu has confirmed that there will be The Handmaids Tale season 2. At a recent panel event, writer-producer Bruce Miller was joined by Elisabeth Moss, Samira Wiley (Moira), Alexis Bledel (Ofglen) and Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia) to talk about what fans can expect from the follow-up series.
The Handmaid's Tale season 2 will feature The Colonies
Throughout the season, we often heard 'The Colonies' being bandied about as a threat to those who didn't abide by the rules. While we didn't see it, we knew it was a polluted wasteland where criminals were sent as punishment - and it was clear that the place was worse than Gilead.
During the panel, Miller explained the decision to include it in the upcoming season.
'We get to see The Colonies, which is something that is mentioned in the first season, which is a terrible place where they send ‘Unwomen’ to work them to death.'
Ofglen will be back - but she won't be living in Gilead
The last we saw of Ofglen, she was in the grips of an exhilarating meltdown fighting back against the system. We know that Alexis Bledel will be rejoining the cast, but what does that mean for her character?
'I mean you might be able to see it in her future,' Alexis confessed. 'I am very interested to see what that world is like, because it’s a completely new world that we haven’t seen yet on the show… and I am scared! But I am sure it’s another rich and fascinating place, and as terrifying, as Gilead is.'
Will the Commander and Serena Joy will returning for The Handmaids Tale season 2?
At the end of season one we saw Offred being bundled into a truck, smirking at the Commander and Serena Joy on her way out of the house. However, just because she's been removed from their house it doesn't mean they won't be in the next season.
Miller says that the couple's 'fascinating arc' is too brilliant to leave behind, but when they do reappear don't expect things to go smoothly.
'I can't imagine Serena's going to be too happy. She might have a smidge of an anger manager problem. I wouldn't want to be in that house.'
Crikey.
What has Elisabeth Moss told us we can we expect?
Talking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress confessed: 'I've read the outline for the first episode, and it is fucking ridiculous... It's insane!
'I can say this: There is literally no way that anyone can guess what happens. You can try, but you won't do it. It's incredible. We're really looking to blow people away, and we have every intention to break [the story] open and go even further in all directions.
'We have no intention of doing anything else than being even more balls to the wall than we were in Season 1.'
So it sounds like the producers have some pretty massive surprises up their sleeves. Excellent.
Drake might have a The Handmaids Tale season 2 cameo
Yes, as in the rapper. It looks like Margaret Atwood needs to call him on his cell phone after telling publications last month that she thought it would be a 'fun' idea to give Drake a guest role. Miller confirmed that the author has huge sway when it comes to the production, explaining: 'She is wonderfully enthusiastic and influenced with things that are going on in the media right now.'
The Handmaids Tale season 2 is expected to come to Hulu in 2018.