The first teaser for Hulu's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale has arrived, and it's absolutely something you're gonna want to see.
Check it out.
Here's where I come clean: up until about ten minutes ago, I was wholly unfamiliar with The Handmaid's Tale. I'd seen some photos from this adaptation and I've definitely heard the book name-dropped a number of times, but I assumed - between one thing and another - that this was a period drama, not a speculative bit of dystopian science fiction. Welp. What can I say? I'm a sponge for this sorta stuff, but (contrary to popular belief) I don't know everything.
I suspect I'm in the minority here, though, so you folks are probably way ahead of me on being excited about Hulu's miniseries, which stars Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel, Joseph Fiennes, Ann Dowd and Samira Wiley. The series will run a full 10 episodes, with an April 26th premiere date.
Here's a plot synopsis, via Blastr:
Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values'. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In this terrifying society, Offred must navigate between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.
Oh, yes. I am absolutely into all of this. I am also feeling very foolish for not paying closer attention to this sooner. Also: how have I not already read this book? Please don't anyone tell Meredith, I suspect she will think less of me for it.
The Handmaid's Tale premieres on Hulu on April 26th. We'll be keeping a close eye on it between now and then.