Ann Dowd Shares Hopeful Update on The Testaments Season 2
Emmy-winning actress Ann Dowd has provided an exciting glimpse into the future of The Testaments, the highly anticipated sequel series to The Handmaid's Tale. Speaking just days before the premiere, Dowd revealed that writers have already begun developing a potential second season, while discussing her return to the iconic role of Aunt Lydia.
Returning to a Complex Character
Dowd, who originated the role of Aunt Lydia in the first season of The Handmaid's Tale, expressed her enthusiasm about reprising the character for the new spin-off series. "I can't get there fast enough. That's the truth. It's wonderful to play a role like this," the actress told Deadline. She described portraying Lydia for seven years as a "privilege" and acknowledged how her performance may have influenced author Margaret Atwood's decision to keep the character alive in the sequel novel.
The actress referenced Atwood's Booker Award-winning source material, noting the author reportedly told showrunner Bruce Miller that Lydia was "too good to kill." Dowd elaborated: "I think she decided she was going to write a sequel, and maybe getting the character she wants to be alive in her book. So I say humbly, I think she had Lydia in mind, which I'm so grateful for."
Season Two Development Already Underway
While The Testaments hasn't officially been renewed for a second season, Dowd revealed that preparations are already in motion. "Well, we haven't been picked up yet. I think it will be," she anticipated. "I'm pretty sure that this is going to be picked up... so they're in the writer's room now. I mean, not this moment, but they have begun writing it."
The actress has taken practical steps to ensure her availability, keeping her late 2026 schedule clear in case she needs to return to set. She added: "So, I think it's soon to come. I'm sure they'd like to have several seasons. There's a lot to tell."
The Testaments Premiere Details
The new series, based on Margaret Atwood's novels, premieres on Wednesday, 8th April on Disney+ and Hulu. Set several years after the events of the original series, The Testaments follows:
- Chase Infiniti as Agnes MacKenzie, daughter of rebel June Osborne (originally portrayed by Elisabeth Moss)
- Lucy Halliday as Canadian teenager Daisy, who enrolls at Lydia's elite preparatory school for future wives
- Ann Dowd reprising her role as the complex Aunt Lydia
As Agnes gradually uncovers sinister secrets at the core of Gilead through her interactions with Daisy, viewers will follow Lydia's destiny through the season finale on 27th May. Dowd's comments about keeping her schedule free suggest the character may survive the first season, though fans will need to watch to confirm.
Supporting the Series' Future
Dowd emphasized that supporters can help secure the future of the dystopian drama by watching when the opening season arrives. The premiere represents a crucial moment for the franchise, with the actress's optimistic update about potential future seasons adding to the anticipation surrounding the show's debut.
