The Handmaid's Tale star Ann Dowd is set to reprise her role as Aunt Lydia in spin-off series The Testaments.
The Testaments is the 2019 sequel to Margaret Atwood's best-selling 1985 dystopian novel that inspired the main series, which will return for its sixth and final season this April.
According to Deadline, the series adaptation of the follow-up novel is nearing a greenlight, with Dowd expected to reprise her role as Aunt Lydia.
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While Dowd previously expressed her hopes to return for the spin-off, no casting details had been confirmed.
Deadline also reports that Presumed Innocent actor Chase Infiniti has joined the cast as Agnes.
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The Testaments takes place more than 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, following Aunt Lydia, Agnes and Daisy as their fates become intertwined when they "uncover the secrets of Gilead and the resistance against its regime".
Related: Handmaid's Tale shares first look at season 6 ahead of spring release window
While the book hints that Agnes is June Osborne's daughter, given she has the same name given to June's daughter Hannah when she is adopted into a Gilead home, it has not been confirmed whether Elisabeth Moss will reprise her role as June.
The role of Daisy hasn't been cast yet.
The news comes after The Handmaid's Tale released a trailer for its final season and confirmed that the show will return on April 6.
"In the final season, June's unyielding spirit and determination pull her back into the fight to take down Gilead," reads the season's official synopsis.
"Luke and Moira join the resistance, Serena tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick faces challenging tests of character."
The Handmaid's Tale returns on April 6 Hulu in the US. The show airs on both Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK.
Read more The Handmaid's Tale news on our dedicated homepage
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
