The Handmaid's Tale Final Season Begins Filming: First Look from Set

The cameras are rolling again in Gilead! "The Handmaid's Tale" has officially kicked off production for its sixth and final season. Fans of the hit dystopian drama, based on Margaret Atwood's chilling novel, can finally breathe a sigh of relief (or perhaps hold their breath in anticipation).

Hulu dropped a tantalizing tidbit for eager viewers: the first behind-the-scenes snapshot from the set. The photo features none other than Elisabeth Moss, the show's leading lady and now director extraordinaire, flashing a smile while holding the first scene's clapperboard. Talk about wearing multiple bonnets!

Hulu's social media team couldn't contain their excitement, posting: "Guess who's back? The final season's production is officially underway. The Handmaid's Tale returns in spring 2025." For those keeping count, that's a whopping two-and-a-half-year wait since we last visited the nightmare world of Gilead. But hey, good things come to those who wait, right?

Speaking of good things, Elisabeth Moss spilled some tea to TVLine about her expanded role this season. She's not just acting; she's calling the shots for four episodes. Moss shared, "I think the most exciting and rewarding thing for us is feeling like we're doing this for the fans. They've had to endure some pretty dark stuff for five years, and everyone's been so brave. This season, we're giving it back to the audience. We definitely focused on making it rewarding and satisfying for the fans."

But what about the mastermind behind the madness? Bruce Miller, the show's creator and executive producer, gave DigitalSpy a peek into his thoughts: "We're going to finish on our own terms. This is something we've never been able to have just because of the way the job is set up. And more importantly, it's not something that everyone gets to give to the audience."

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: June's fate. Last we saw, June and her fellow Gilead refugees were making a break for it, hoping to find safe passage from Canada to Hawaii. But don't worry, June fans! Miller reassured The Hollywood Reporter, "The show exists because June survived. In our fake world, the only reason this history is recorded is because she recorded it. So she has to survive because she de facto made this exist."

The final season's star-studded cast includes familiar faces like Yvonne Strahovski, Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, and Ann Dowd. Plus, there's a new kid on the block: Josh Charles, whose role was announced in July 2024. Intriguing, right?

While we don't have an exact release date yet, Hulu has promised to deliver the goods in spring 2025. Until then, keep your red cloaks handy and your spirits high. The end is near, but the revolution is far from over. Ready to dive back into the world of Gilead?