In season three of The Handmaid's Tale, June is still alive (just) and struggling to overthrow the state of Gilead. Before the series had finished, however, a fourth season had been commissioned - meaning her plight will likely was to be longer than anticipated.
The first two seasons of the dystopian drama introduced us to Offred, formerly June, who is enslaved as a handmaid. This means she is forced to have children for the elite couples of the controlled state of Gilead (formerly parts of the USA) - in a society where infertility rates have skyrocketed and women no longer posses any rights or freedoms.
Over the course of the show, we have seen some of June's fellow handmaids seek asylum in Canada, June move to different houses, have a baby and join a resistance group of women who are working against the dictatorship government.
And even more is about to unfold thanks to a confirmed release date of season 4.
This is good news because, well, the show is brilliant. The acting is outstanding, it's truly gripping and well worthy of all its Emmys. Bad because, well it's just so harrowing and some moments - given the news that day - are eerily not too far removed from what's happening to women across the world. Another season means that the dictatorship of Gilead has not been toppled.
So, where is the show going to pick up next?
Here's what we know:
Is season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale confirmed?
Yes. Back in July, 2019 Hulu announced the series has been renewed for a fourth season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Who will star in season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale?
Not much has been confirmed but we can't imagine Elisabeth Moss - the star of the show and an executive producer - will be going anywhere. She is the handmaid telling the tale, after all.
On December 11 2020, series creator Bruce Miller confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that British actress Zawe Ashton will be joining the cast.
According to Miller, Ashton - who is best known for her roles in Fresh Meat and St Trinian's 2 - 'is going to play Moira’s girlfriend and an aid worker in Toronto'.
Miller also shed light on Mckenna Grace's character in season four as she plays 'a young "wife", in the Gilead tradition. She’s so spectacular in the show. I’ve just been watching the first few episodes because I’m finally doing some editing, and she’s just wonderful. Watching her and [Elisabeth Moss] together, it’s great. June comes in contact with a lot of different people in the season, a lot more than usual, I would say'.
Speaking about the show's additional guest actors, which also include Reed Birney, Milley said: 'So the guest players have been so important this season, and they’ve been for the first few episodes, so good.
![handmaid's tale season 4](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-1211492510.jpg?resize=980:* "Premiere Of Universal Pictures' "The Hunt" - Arrivals")
'And honestly, they’ve had to travel extra distances, they had to stay in hotel rooms for two weeks. It’s not been easy, and they’re absolutely putting their A-plus work in, even though I know how difficult it has been for them to get there.'
Pre-Covid-19 lockdown cast members including O-T Fagbenle (Luke), Max Minghella (Nick) and Amanda Brugel (Rita) had shared behind the scenes photos from filming in Toronto, Canada confirming their continued part in the tale.
Fagbenle also revealed that Moss will be behind the camera directing some of the forthcoming episodes.
Is there a trailer for season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale?
Yes! Hulu released the official - and likely, final - trailer for season 4 on March 30 and we're not sure we actually breathed while watching it.
Nick has returned, as is evident by his searching through Gilead for June - who appears to be on the run - the Waterfords are still hellbent on avenging their former handmaid, while we also hear her being questioned about 'returning' to Gilead, leading us to wonder whether she has managed to escape the regime...
The final trailer follows a February release of another teaser where we saw Nick and June kissing, June and the handmaids preparing for battle, Commander Lawrence and June at the end of the video declaring herself to be a 'citizen of the United States'.
What does this mean?!
What will happen in season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale?
Season 3 of the multi award-winning drama culminated with June carried on a stretcher by her fellow handmaids after choosing to stay behind in Gilead to find and save eldest daughter Hannah, instead of join the aircraft of mainly children as well as some handmaids and kitchen slaves bound for Canada that she organised.
Meanwhile, June's original Commander Waterford and his wife Mrs Waterford had been captured by Canadian law enforcement for their part in war crimes.
Over in Canada, Luke, Moira and Emily (Alexis Bledel) were seen volunteering with a refugee organisation helping those disembark the aircraft. In one of the most emotional moments, Rita and Emily recognise each other and Rita tells a devastated Luke (once he realises neither June of Hannah are on the plane) that it was June who organised the flight.
In the June trailer - which doesn't give much away - June and several handmaids are seen on the run while a furious Aunt Lydia rues the day she ever met or trusted June. What's clear is that the resistance shows no sign of slowing down, evidently when an unidentified man, says in the clip: 'Blessed be the squad.'
The February 2021 trailer shows Gilead in disarray, faced with international sanctions, violence on the streets and the handmaids collaborating to bring down the regime while Aunt Lydia rounds up the loyal-to-Gilead forces to protect it. The trailer culminates with a boat arriving to a dock marked with a Canadian flag and June Osbourne stating her name and citizenship. In the final trailer, June's best friend Moira is seen saying that June is 'enemy number one in Gilead', while it's clear June is still fighting for the freedom of her daughter Hannah, who we see at one point in a glass box.
Though the critically-acclaimed programme is based on the bestselling book of the same name by Margaret Atwood, only the first season ran on the same storyline. The show's directors were given creative license (with Atwood's input as a producer) for the next few series.
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
SHOP NOW The Handmaid's Tale, £6.36, Amazon
However, last September Atwood released the hugely anticipated sequel to her 1985 novel called The Testaments which was jointly awarded the 2019 Booker Prize.
Set 15 years after Offred's final scene in the novel, we're not quite sure if season 4 will pick up or be linked in any way to the fourth series but Atwood remains a consulting producer and writer.
What has been the reception to The Handmaid's Tale season 4?
On April 27, the first three episodes of the fourth season of the show dropped a day early on the US streaming site, Hulu. The surprise announcement was made by the cast of the show, including Moss, Ann Dowd, Fagbenle and Bledel:
Judging from the reactions, from both critics and social media, we're in for a treat when the season starts airing in the UK.
Vulture said The Handmaid's Tale has 'got its mojo back', CNN said it has 'shifted gears' while the Radio Times noted that the first episode alone had some 'mind-blowing plot developments'. (Side note: The reviews may contain spoilers!)
Meanwhile on social media:
Following the release, Moss spoke to E! News' Daily Pop about filming the season and what fans can expect to see.
'This season, June's on the run,' she said of her character. We're in a different place in every episode. I always end up running a lot...It was incredibly physically challenging!"
'I think it was important to all of us to kind of fulfil the promises that we had made with the show and with June,' Moss added. 'We don't make the show in a vacuum...I think we felt like ok it's time to reward [fans] for watching this for three years. It's time to give them what they've been waiting for.'
When will season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale air in the UK?
While the show was released early in the US, for UK viewers, we have to wait a little while longer. On March 17, Channel 4 confirmed that the show would be returning to the channel 'later in the year' and there has been no further update as of yet.
If you missed any episodes from the previous three seasons, Channel 4 added that seasons 1-3 will be made available on All 4 ahead of the new season landing.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
In need of more inspiration, thoughtful journalism and at-home beauty tips? Subscribe to ELLE's print magazine now and pay just £6 for 6 issues. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Best TV Shows And Movies To Watch On Netflix, Amazon And Now TV In January 2020
Olivia Blair is Entertainment Editor (Luxury) at Hearst UK, working across ELLE, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Olivia covers all things entertainment and has interviewed the likes of Margot Robbie, Emma Stone, Michaela Coel and Ryan Gosling over the years.
