Hulu is heading back to Gilead for another chapter. ‘The Testaments’ has been renewed for Season 2, with Chase Infiniti, Lucy Halliday and Ann Dowd set to continue leading the sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’

The renewal comes from Hulu as the series, created by Bruce Miller and produced by MGM Television and 20th Television, nears the end of its 10-episode first season. The pickup arrives after eight episodes have streamed, with the show seeing steady week-to-week audience growth.

‘The Testaments’ launched with three episodes on April 8, shortly after the conclusion of a film awards season that helped turn Infiniti from a relative unknown into an award-winning film star for her performance in ‘One Battle After Another.’

According to the company, the show’s fourth episode, released April 15, posted a 20% increase in viewership compared with the premiere after one day of streaming. Across Hulu and Disney+, the series drew more than 11 million hours streamed globally during its first eight days.

By Episode 8, first-day views for that installment had risen 76% compared with the premiere. To date, available episodes of The Testaments have accumulated more than 45 million hours streamed worldwide.

Episode 9 is being released today, May 20, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the U.S. for bundle subscribers, as well as on Disney+ internationally. The Season 1 finale is scheduled for May 27. The first season currently holds an 88% average score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A follow-up to the Emmy-winning ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ ‘The Testaments’ is a coming-of-age drama set in Gilead. The series centers on Agnes, played by Infiniti, a devout and obedient teenager, and Daisy, played by Halliday, a newcomer and convert from outside Gilead. Their lives intersect inside Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, where brutality is framed as faith and obedience is enforced at every turn. Their connection ultimately becomes the force that reshapes their past, present and future.

Dowd reprises her role as Aunt Lydia. The cast also includes Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya and Kira Guloien. ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ star Elisabeth Moss also appears as a guest star, returning as June Osborn.

Miller created ‘The Testaments’ based on Margaret Atwood’s Booker Prize-winning novel and serves as showrunner. He executive produces with Warren Littlefield, Moss, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears and Mike Barker. Barker directed the first three episodes and the finale. Priscilla Porianda serves as co-executive producer. The series is produced by MGM Television and 20th Television.

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