Chase Infiniti, star of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ spinoff ‘The Testaments,’ reveals she didn’t meet Elisabeth Moss until filming was nearly over, a surprising choice that underscores the show’s focus on legacy and new beginnings.
In the sprawling, interconnected world of prestige television, cast chemistry can make or break a show. So, when Chase Infiniti, the new star of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ spinoff ‘The Testaments,’ revealed a surprising detail about her relationship with the original series’ lead, it sent ripples through the fan community. Infiniti, who plays June’s daughter Hannah, a.k.a. Agnes, admitted she didn’t meet Elisabeth Moss until she was nearly done filming the new series.
“I actually didn’t get to meet Elisabeth Moss really until the end [of filming],” Infiniti, 25, told People earlier this month. The revelation is a stark contrast to the typical on-set bonding anecdotes that often accompany major TV productions. Yet, Infiniti quickly clarified that their first meeting was filled with warmth and encouragement. “But she kind of immediately after I met her, wrapped me into a big hug and was kind of like, ‘You got this. You got this. OK? You got it.’”
This late introduction is more than just an interesting behind-the-scenes tidbit; it’s a narrative choice that perfectly encapsulates the core theme of ‘The Testaments.’ The original series, which aired from 2017 to 2025, was defined by Moss’s indelible performance as June Osborne, a woman fighting for freedom in a dystopian future. The spinoff, based on Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel, is set 15 years later and shifts the focus. While Moss is not a series regular, her legacy looms large over the story, which is now primarily told through the eyes of a new generation of characters, including Infiniti’s Agnes.
The spinoff follows Agnes and Daisy as they pose as “Pearl Girls” to infiltrate Canada and smuggle information out of Gilead, all while Ann Dowd’s Aunt Lydia acts as a covert source within the regime. This new chapter isn’t just a continuation; it’s a deliberate passing of the torch. By keeping Infiniti and Moss separate for most of the production, the showrunners ensured that the narrative weight fell squarely on the shoulders of the new cast, allowing them to establish their own identities and stakes without the immediate overshadowing presence of the show’s original star.
This approach aligns with the vision of creator Bruce Miller, who has always been careful to balance faithfulness to Atwood’s work with the demands of television. As he told TVLine in 2022, “Margaret writes these absolutely deliciously specific characters. We had to go away from that in Handmaid’s, and we’re going to have to go away from that in Testaments. Testaments is certainly going to be a sequel to the show.” This statement confirms that while the new show is a direct follow-up, it must carve out its own distinct path, a goal that a delayed Moss-Infiniti meeting inherently supports.
The strategy also speaks to the confidence of the show’s team. The sixth and final season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ wrapped up many of its central plot points in what showrunner Yahlin Chang described as “some very satisfying ways.” This provided a sense of closure for fans while simultaneously setting the stage for a new adventure. Chang further teased that ‘The Testaments’ will feature its own cliffhangers, ensuring that while it honors the past, it is very much its own story.
For the fan community, this revelation adds a fascinating layer to the viewing experience. It reframes the dynamic between the old and new guard not just as an acting partnership, but as a symbolic one. Moss’s final, encouraging hug to Infiniti can be seen as a narrative handover, a blessing from the original protagonist to the new one. It transforms a simple behind-the-scenes fact into a powerful metaphor for the show’s evolution, assuring viewers that while the world of Gilead may be familiar, the story they are about to witness will be bold, new, and entirely its own.
‘The Testaments’ premieres April 8 on Hulu, promising to be a worthy continuation of one of television’s most important stories. And now, fans know that the journey into this new chapter began with a powerful, late-in-the-game embrace between two women representing the past and future of Gilead.
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