The sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale is set to premiere on Hulu on April 8, 2025, with a ten-episode run. The first three episodes will be released on the premiere date, followed by weekly releases until May 27, 2025. This season promises to be the most intense yet, as the stakes are higher than ever for June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and the other characters navigating the dystopian world of Gilead.
Season 5 ended with June and Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski) escaping Canada with their children, setting the stage for a tense and action-packed finale. The dynamic between June and Serena, which has evolved from enemies to reluctant allies, will play a central role in the final season. Executive producer Warren Littlefield described their relationship as one of mutual respect and understanding, despite their history of animosity.
Elisabeth Moss, who also serves as an executive producer and director for four episodes this season, has teased that the storyline will take unexpected turns, leaving fans in awe. The teaser released by Hulu hints at a revolution, with June leading the charge against Gilead’s oppressive regime.
The production budget for the final season is estimated to be significantly higher than previous seasons, reflecting the scale of the story and the need for elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects. While exact figures are not disclosed, the series has consistently been one of Hulu’s most expensive productions, with earlier seasons costing around $10 million per episode. The final season is expected to surpass this, given its ambitious scope.
The series has been a critical and commercial success, winning 15 Primetime Emmy Awards since its debut in 2017. It has also been a major driver of subscriptions for Hulu, contributing significantly to the platform’s revenue. The net worth of the franchise, including streaming rights, merchandise, and international distribution, is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
