The Handmaid's Tale season 2 release date announced as first trailer revealed

Elisabeth Moss returns as Offred while Marisa Tomei joins the cast

Ann Dowd and Elisabeth Moss as Aunt Lydia and Offred in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (Hulu (Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale has been dominating this year’s awards season, taking home multiple major awards, including the Golden Globe for best television series.

With excitement for the second season ratcheting up, Hulu has announced the TV show’s return date — 25 April — and offered a bleak first trailer.

Continuing the Margaret Atwood’s story, the upcoming 13-episode season will focus on Offred (Elisabeth Moss) attempting to find her child. Returning actors include Joseph Fiennes. Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, and Max Minghella, while Marisa Tomei joins the cast as the commander’s wife.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association panel, executive producer Bruce Miller spoke about whether the new season will surpass the original novel, saying according to EW: “I certainly don’t think we’re going beyond the story that [Margaret Atwood] was telling. She’s very much the mother of the series.”

Miller also spoke about season two’s tone, saying: “There’s a lot of horror and cruelty and dread in this situation, but there’s also a lot of absurdity. I feel like June is always this close to turning to the camera and being, like, ‘What the actual f**k.’”

The Handmaid's Tale airs on Hulu in the US and on Channel 4 and its on-demand service All 4 in the UK.