Season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale will go beyond the book

Elisabeth Moss plays a still-fertile woman separated from her family and forced to become a breeder in the show
Elisabeth Moss plays lead in 'The Handmaid's Tale' (Getty Images)
Elisabeth Moss plays lead in 'The Handmaid's Tale' (Getty Images)

Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale, which is set to return to your TV screens on Wednesday, may be moving past the narrative of the book on which it is based, especially since the show has technically reached the end of its source material, Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel of the same name.

The second season of the dystopian show premiered last Thursday, April 19, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Hulu's critically acclaimed series — the first show produced by a streaming site to take home best drama Emmy — tells the story of a woman enslaved under a patriarchal, theocratic dictatorship called Gilead that has replaced the United States of America.

Elisabeth Moss plays the the lead role of Offred in 'The Handmaid's Tale' (Getty Images)

The show, which stars Elisabeth Moss in the lead, has been in the limelight for how much relevant the story is in Donald Trump’s America than it was when first published in 1985.

A still from 'The Handmaid’s Tale' (Hulu)

The 35-year-old actress plays Offred, a former book editor who is one of the few fertile women left. She is forced into becoming a handmaid — a sex slave — for The Commander, played by Joseph Fiennes, and his wife Serena Joy, played by Yvonne Strahovski. The story follows Offred’s struggle for survival and her quest to find her lost daughter.

Cast and crew of 'The Handmaid's Tale', winners of Outstanding Drama Series, pose in the press room during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Alberto E Rodriguez/Getty Images)

The show won the Golden Globe this year for Best Drama television series and Moss herself bagged the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Drama Series. Last year, The Handmaid’s Tale swept the Primetime Emmys with eight awards and four other nominations.

The series is an Original production by Hulu, the premium streaming service that is home to such hits as Future Man, Marvel’s Runaways, The Path and 11.22.63.

Check out the teaser of Season 2 here:

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Briar University undergoes a major casting shift as Prime Video moves forward with Season 2 without one of its breakout stars.
1 hour ago
Following an explosive cliffhanger finale, 'Marshals' is expected to be back sooner with the reveal of Kayce and his team's fate.
2 hours ago
The magic returns as HBO officially locks in a release date for the highly anticipated 'Harry Potter' series and more shows.
4 hours ago
A major casting shakeup is hitting Port Charles as a Daytime Emmy-winning cast member officially confirms departure from 'General Hospital.'
6 hours ago
The Season 3 finale is set to be the longest episode in the show's history, clocking in at 93 minutes.
10 hours ago
In 'Euphoria' Season 3, Nate was seen struggling to pay off his crushing debt of nearly $1 million
12 hours ago
Cal finds himself ambushed by gunmen in the Season 1 finale of the CBS series 'Marshals,' with his fate left up in the air.
12 hours ago
The Season 3 finale saw Russell learn more about his father's past activities with Chrono Stasis
14 hours ago
Netflix’s latest hit ‘The Boroughs’ puts New Mexico at its forefront, using several staple locations from the city in production.
14 hours ago
‘Marshals’ paid tribute to Leonard 'Lenny' E. Hancock Jr., who died in December 2025
16 hours ago