Elisabeth Moss Unpacks Main ‘The Testaments’ Finale Reveal — and Expects Your Response

[This story contains MAJOR spoilers from The Testaments season one finale, “Secateurs.”]

Elisabeth Moss is aware of how one can maintain a secret.

When the The Handmaid’s Tale sequel collection, The Testaments, was introduced, everybody wished to know if she can be reprising her starring character, June Osborne. Viewers didn’t get the reply till The Testaments premiered, and the Mayday resistance fighter made her epic return. However Moss can now lastly converse freely — and he or she says that June was all the time going to be within the sequel.

“The most important thing was that the overall idea of how Handmaid’s ended dovetailed into The Testaments and that it made sense,” Moss, an govt producer on each collection (and director on the flagship), tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve said this since season one of Handmaid’s — but June’s story is never over until she makes sure that Hannah is safe. That’s all. That’s the end of it. Period.”

Hannah is the daughter who was stolen from June by Gilead to launch this TV franchise. June and Hannah didn’t reunite on the finish of The Handmaid’s Story — and now with the discharge of Wednesday’s finale, viewers see that additionally they don’t reunite on the finish of season one in every of The Testaments. Moss expects the followers to react: “I get it,” she says. “I would like them to get back together, too. But I do think there is a way of getting there that where, if we’re going to do it, we’re doing to do it in the right way.”

However the season one finale of the follow-up collection does disclose to Hannah — who was renamed Agnes in Gilead — who her mom actually is. Agnes, performed by Chase Infiniti, is advised by her buddy Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a resistance spy for June, who her actual mom is, and it kickstarts an awakening that can see Agnes becoming a member of the battle together with her pals and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) because the present continues. What precisely that can appear to be is what creator Bruce Miller and his writers are at the moment determining, as they’re now within the writers room for the already renewed second season of Hulu‘s hit collection, tailored from Margaret Atwood‘s sequel novel of the identical identify.

Under, Moss unpacks the entire largest burning questions from the season one finale, “Secateurs,” which was written by Miller, together with Maya Goldsmith and Gianna Sobol, and directed by frequent franchise helmer Mike Barker. Did Moss have any hesitations returning as June, and can June issue as a lot within the story for season two? What did June actually learn about the place Hannah was in Gilead, and has she been working in cahoots with Aunt Lydia? Does Moss hope Testaments runs so long as Handmaid’s, and what’s going to Hannah’s awakening appear to be in season two? Moss talks all that and extra, beneath, making one factor crystal clear: “As long as there’s a Gilead, she’s never going to stop fighting,” she says.

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When The Testaments launched, I spoke with creator Bruce Miller about you reprising June, and he mainly stated there was by no means The Testaments with out June and Lizzie Moss. Since June isn’t retired from the resistance motion or the battle to get her daughter again, after all she was all the time going to be aside of this present. However your onscreen function was a well-kept secret till the present premiered, so at what level while you had been making The Handmaid’s Story did it develop into a actuality that you simply had been going to reprise June?

So, I used to be initially purported to direct the start of The Testaments, however that was again when the concept was first coming collectively. After I bought the job to direct the primary two and the final two episodes of The Handmaid’s Story with my newborn, it turned obvious that it was not going to essentially be the best concept for me to additionally attempt to direct three episodes of The Testaments. (Laughs.) All of us sort of determined, “Let’s focus on Handmaid’s,” and we introduced within the stunning Mike Barker [to direct Testaments]. It was someplace in that point interval [that we decided I would return as June].

This present is so near the bone for me, each professionally and personally, that typically it’s very tough to tell apart moments in time. I used to be so immersed in Handmaid’s for 12 months a 12 months, between prep, manufacturing and publish. We all the time knew that June was going to be in it. That was no query. When and the way? I believe that was determined just a few months earlier than I shot it, after we bought the scripts and we knew precisely what the present was going to be.

You will have your arms throughout June; you’re such an in depth collaborator with Bruce. What was most necessary to you about June coming again? She had this superhero-like reveal in the premiere and has remained a mentor to Daisy (Lucy Halliday) all through the season. How did you land on how a lot we’d see June, and what function she would play on this new Gilead period?

Crucial factor turned how Handmaid’s ended, and the way that dovetails into June being in The Testaments, as a result of they actually went hand in hand. We didn’t formally know the way Handmaid’s was going to finish from Bruce and his writers room till whereas we had been capturing that closing season.

However there was an concept. I had identified for years from Bruce that June wasn’t going to get Hannah out [at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale]. I knew that’s what was going to occur. After which Margaret Atwood wrote the sequel [novel], and Hannah didn’t get out. We had been like, “Okay, cool. That’s confirmed.” So I knew for some time that wasn’t going to occur. It was all the time very humorous when individuals had been like, “Is Hannah going to get out at the end of Handmaid’s?” I used to be like, “Guys, I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but there’s a whole other book that Margaret Atwood wrote, and it’s out there. I’m not being cagey. You can go read it if you like!”

How that present ended immediately affected how we had been going to have the ability to convey June in for The Testaments, so a very powerful factor for me was that the 2 issues went collectively — that we might finish Handmaid’s in a method that made sense for that present, but additionally made sense for The Testaments, which is an unimaginable reward and difficult with the viewers.

For a really very long time, such as you stated, we saved that secret shockingly nicely. I really don’t even know the way. In fact, there have been issues put in place. We had been very cautious about what was on the decision sheets. Nevertheless it simply didn’t get out. And it was tough at occasions to not have the ability to inform the followers, “Guys, it’s okay. June’s story is so not over. The Handmaid’s ending isn’t really even an ending.” It was onerous not to have the ability to share that, however I knew and Bruce knew that June’s story was not simply going to proceed in a method of her being in a single scene [of The Testaments]. We knew that I used to be going to have a number of episodes, and that there was going to be an arc and a bigger plan for June with The Testaments.

Bruce wouldn’t inform me your code identify within the script, are you allowed to inform me what it was in The Testaments? He stated you had been “Rocket Woman” in Handmaid’s.

That was one season, and that one was not my favourite. (Laughs.) We had a special alias each season. What was it for The Testaments? I’m hesitant to let you know, as a result of if I let you know, I might by no means use it once more! So I’m glad he didn’t let you know. (Laughs.) However let me simply say that I are likely to go tremendous old skool, like basic movies or actors or characters the place you’re going to have a movie data to catch it. I’m undecided lots of people did!

If you filmed your June premiere reveal the place we see you once more for the primary time, how lengthy had it been because you completed the Handmaid’s finale?

About two months. I believe we wrapped Handmaid’s mid-February and I used to be capturing that in April.

What was it wish to play her once more in The Testaments, since she is completely different?

You assume? Inform me. I’m curious.

She’s all-knowing and clever. She is aware of a lot greater than all people else within the present, and that felt completely different.

That’s actually cool to listen to. I’m glad that it felt completely different. I believe it did really feel completely different [playing her again]. It felt like this mixture of with the ability to slip into probably the most comfy pair of your favourite sweatpants, simply how homey and comfy that feels. That’s like taking part in June once more, even after simply a short while. There’s no level in doing it until we’re going to have the ability to proceed creating her story and creating her as a personality, though I don’t assume there’s something fallacious with taking part in your hits. [Handmaid’s Tale star] Bradley Whitford and I discuss that quite a bit. How typically it’s completely cool to only play the hits! Generally that’s what works. However we did wish to be sure that June does have a objective for being there and that it isn’t only a stunt. I’m additionally serving to to ahead the present.

It additionally felt completely different within the sense of half the crew being completely different. It was unusual to in a short time after Handmaid’s, the place you’re with a crew you labored with for a few years, come again and be taking part in the identical character the place a number of the individuals are the identical and you’ve got that consistency, however then there are new faces. That took a little bit getting used to, however wasn’t a nasty factor. A little bit change can typically be useful in bringing out one thing that could be a little bit bit completely different in you.

On this finale, we get this scene between June and Daisy the place June hears Agnes’ (Chase Infiniti) identify and realizes, for the primary time, that Daisy has been together with her daughter this complete time. One of many huge questions I had going into this present was, does June know Agnes is in Gilead with Daisy? And does June know Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) additionally there? Is June working with Lydia?

Proper.

You guys saved that each one very near the vest, and we nonetheless aren’t certain what she is aware of about Lydia. What had been your conversations with Bruce about the way you wished to deal with these questions, and what you wished viewers to assume when it comes to what June is aware of about who’s on the opposite finish of her resistance plan with Daisy?

I talked to Bruce extensively concerning the Agnes half, and whether or not or not she is aware of that Hannah is there — I can’t say “Agnes,” it goes in opposition to every part I consider in! You may name her Agnes, I’m simply not allowed to. (Laughs.) However we went backwards and forwards quite a bit on that challenge, truthfully. I used to be like, “I don’t know, I feel like she should know, why wouldn’t she know? She knows everything.” Such as you stated, she’s all-knowing, she’s probably the most highly effective individual within the resistance. How might she not know that? And he made a really convincing argument, and he was 100% proper.

Among the finest written moments in that scene, for my part, is the the place you get to see June hear it. It’s all the time higher to see on digital camera if the character has one thing occur to them, or in the event that they understand one thing. We get to see her understand and uncover the place precisely Agnes is on digital camera. If we had gone together with her being utterly all-knowing, we’d have been robbed at that second. That second is so transferring when she realizes, and drops her robust exterior. She drops her composure, and also you simply see her as a mother. She’s nothing however a mother swiftly, not a resistance fighter. June is a mother who desires to get her daughter to security.

So I believe Bruce did completely the fitting factor. What we selected was that she is aware of Hannah’s Gilead identify is Agnes MacKenzie. She has an concept of the place she is, however I don’t assume she knew precisely the place she was. She doesn’t essentially know Daisy is aware of her and is pals together with her. In my view, she simply has her suspicions. I believe we’ve got room so as to add or subtract how a lot she knew, however she doesn’t have it 100% confirmed [until that moment].

And what about Lydia? Do you assume June is aware of, or now could be considering, that Hannah could be with Lydia? Are they in cahoots after how Handmaid’s Tale ended between June and Lydia?

That one, I can’t reply!

I like that you could’t reply, as a result of I believe I’m heading in the right direction by asking.

I believe that there’s room there as nicely. And to be trustworthy, I don’t assume it’s 100% selected precisely how a lot and in the event that they’re speaking. I don’t have the solutions to [yet], however judging by how Handmaid’s ended and the final second that June and Lydia had, I like Ann Dowd’s response when Chase [as Agnes] tells her [about June]. You see this panic for a second of Lydia considering, “Why is she bringing up June, and why does she know her? And what does she think?” After which Chase does this unimaginable job of instantly being like, “No, no, it’s cool.” They’re sort of speaking in code and also you’re like, “What is the code? What are you covering? What’s happening?!” There’s a really purposeful ambiguity there.

You talked about this earlier, how viewers wished a June and Hannah reunion on the finish of Handmaid’s Story, and didn’t get it. Now we’re on the finish of season one in every of The Testaments and we nonetheless don’t see them reunited. However the finale does circle again to after we noticed Agnes writing her identify (“Hannah”), and now she’s having this awakening about who her mom actually is. That’s an enormous callback, however it’s not a reunion. Are you ready for the fan response?

I do anticipate individuals, completely, to have that response. I would like them too. Like I stated, she’s by no means gonna cease. So sure, 100%, I get it. I get that’s what we would like. I like I would love it, too. I don’t disagree! (Laughs.) I would love them to get again collectively. However I do assume there’s a method of getting there that the place, if we’re going to do it, we’re doing to do it in the fitting method.

You’re additionally watching how characters develop and the way actors develop their characters, and that’s informing what’s about to occur. Chase and Lucy are bringing issues to their characters the place you’re going, “I want to see more of that. I want to see more of them together.” All of that goes into the dialog as nicely. However [Mike] Barker actually wished to indicate the Hannah writing. That was one thing he actually responded to, and he actually wished to be sure that we had that within the finale. That callback was so necessary. So Bruce put it in, however I keep in mind that was one thing Barker actually wished.

What about your onscreen function in season two? Will or not it’s related, kind of than season one?

I don’t know but. We’re nonetheless getting the scripts and figuring that out, so there’s quite a bit that hasn’t been actually discovered but. That’s the trustworthy reality, as a result of it’s tremendous early days. We simply bought our pick up [for season two], so it’s all nonetheless being explored. However, if I did know, I wouldn’t have the ability to let you know anyway!

In fact you may’t! (Laughs.) Can you converse to the bigger imaginative and prescient for the present? Handmaid’s Story was lengthy operating, which we don’t see as a lot as of late. Do you hope The Testaments runs as lengthy?

That’s all the time the dream and the hope. You wish to be persevering with to get to inform these tales. You wish to be persevering with to get to play with these actors, administrators and writers. I really feel so near June. The core of who she is as a girl, as a mother and as a buddy, I really feel very, very near her. I might by no means wish to cease taking part in her. So for me, sure. So long as there’s a Gilead, she’s by no means going to cease combating. There needs to be a lot extra story that we are able to discover, and it’s so cool that now we’ve got this subsequent technology of actors to discover it via. It provides it this new life and vitality. As a girl who just isn’t 25, it’s so thrilling and incredible to get to observe and play with these youthful actors and get impressed by them.

Do you propose to direct in season two?

I used to be purported to direct on season one, however that was utterly out of the query due to the ending of Handmaid’s after which I used to be beginning Imperfect Women for Apple in Might, which couldn’t push, so I used to be not capable of direct on season one. That feels so unusual to me that I didn’t get to direct, as a result of I’m so near that world. And I don’t imply simply the onscreen world, but additionally behind the scenes with the crew members. That complete method of constructing the present in Toronto with the unimaginable crew I’ve labored with for over a decade now … it was very unusual to not direct in season one. So you may take that and apply it to how I might really feel about season two, the place I’m probably extra out there as nicely.

The ultimate scene of this season felt such as you — with Agnes, Daisy and Shu’s (Rowan Blanchard) empowering stroll to Alt J’s “Hunger of the Pine” ushering within the subsequent technology of resistance fighters for season two. So it appears you and Mike Barker are in sync.

Mike and Dana Reed and Jane Campion, the OG, are the administrators who made me wish to be a director. Anytime I’m working with any of them it’s so symbiotic. So getting to try this [June and Daisy finale] scene on that dock was such a magical, magical night time. It actually was so particular and such a lovely scene. Thanks, Bruce!

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The Testaments is now streaming all of season one on Hulu, and can return for season two. Learn THR‘s show coverage here.