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SPOILER ALERT: This story incorporates spoilers for the sequence finale of “The Handmaid’s Story,” now streaming on Hulu.

Bruce Miller has recognized he needed to finish “The Handmaid’s Story” since earlier than the Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s ebook debuted in 2017. And followers who tuned into watch the sequence finale Tuesday will see Miller caught with that ending, and he’s obtained the receipts to show it.

“Effectively, when you return and watch the pilot, at first of the pilot, you’ll be able to hear her click on that tape recorder that she clicks on the finish of the sequence to start out recording ‘The Handmaid’s Story’ within the audio — and we didn’t return and put that in, that was there,” Miller informed Selection.

“The Handmaid’s Story” sequence finale ends with June (Elisabeth Moss) returning to her bed room within the Waterfords’ now-destroyed dwelling to start recording her story, which begins with the primary voiceover monologue given by June because the handmaid Offred from the sequence premiere, in preparation to write down a ebook about her time in Gilead.

“I at all times thought it made pure sense. The very last thing you recognize within the ebook about Offred is that she recorded this,” Miller stated. “And so when Lizzie and I have been speaking on the very starting of the venture, you discuss the place you’re going to go. Should you may wave a magic wand and magically go six seasons — which is unbelievable — then what would we do? And hopefully you ended the place the ebook ended, which is she’s recording this in a cabin, after which she leaves it behind. We modified it a bit, however the sound division — who is identical sound division we’ve had all alongside, may be very excited that we’re paying off the Easter egg that they put within the very first episode.”

The ending of “The Handmaid’s Story” sequence is just not the ending of the world of Gilead, which received’t be toppled till Hulu’s adaptation of “The Testaments,” Atwood’s 2019 sequel to her seminal 1985 novel. Miller is shepherding that sequence, which is at present in manufacturing, and dealing alongside a lot of the identical group, together with Moss as a producer.

Within the interview under, Miller breaks down how “The Handmaid’s Story” finale will lead into the plot of “The Testaments,” and what adjustments shall be made to the sequel sequence from its supply materials — in addition to how he determined the place to finish June’s story.

I used to be so excited to see Alexis Bledel come again as her character Emily for the finale. How did that come about?

It was at all times understood, a minimum of for me, that I might do something if there was ever a time that it made sense to deliver her again. We liked her, and he or she liked being on the present. It was a logistical piece on the finish, since you solely have a sure variety of weeks to shoot it and it was essential to me that she was in that a part of the present that was shot in Gilead the place June was again. As a result of her being again within the neighborhood meant so much much less when you didn’t discover out what occurred to Emily. So it felt like she was half and parcel of that. But it surely wasn’t a troublesome determination in any respect, it simply felt just like the the tumbler that wanted to fall into place, however getting it to occur, as at all times, is harder.

I didn’t even notice till the ultimate strains triggered me to return and watch the pilot that all the scene in entrance of the ice cream store can be a scene from the pilot. The aquarium scenes with Hannah and Luke are one other reference to the pilot.

Within the novel, this was June’s story and he or she was the viewpoint, so that you solely knew what she knew, and that’s what made it scary. That’s what made it a narrative in any respect. It wouldn’t be a narrative when you noticed it from 30,000 toes. It’s as a result of June doesn’t know what’s going to occur immediately or tomorrow or in that van or in that room or something. So it was essential to me to maintain it in that area — that the present was her expertise. It’s known as “The Handmaid’s Story.” So what I used to be considering is, the place shall I begin and the place shall I finish?

How are approaching “The Testaments” TV sequence based mostly on the place you concluded “The Handmaid’s Story”? That ebook facilities on the tales of June’s daughters Hannah and Nichole, in addition to Aunt Lydia, however takes place 15 years after the occasions of “The Handmaid’s Story” ebook. Is that the time soar you’ll comply with?

No, it may’t actually be that, as a result of it covers Hannah when she’s sort of in her 14, 15, 16-year-old years. So it’s about 5 years after “The Handmaid’s Story,” in all probability extra like three or 4, relying on how we decide — there’s at all times a bit little bit of guesswork concerned, it’s not an actual world, nevertheless it’s someplace round three or 4 years after. And the most important and the one purpose it’s any totally different is as a result of none of that stuff tracks age-wise. As a result of our present takes place over a sure timeframe, and infants solely develop over a sure timeframe, and other people aren’t simply the best ages. Nichole is just not going to highschool, and so we needed to make adjustments for that. However I’ve to say, Margaret got here to talk with me about “The Testaments” being an thought, and we spoke very early on in regards to the notion of it. There was simply as a lot of her giving me hints then.

So it looks as if, now you need to pivot the present — however that pivoting occurred a very long time in the past, simply by discussions between me and her about, “That is the place I’m planning to go along with Aunt Lydia,” and he or she stated, “Oh, cool.” She was telling me what she needed to do, and I used to be considering of ways in which mine tracked with hers, however she was additionally asking questions in regards to the present and the place it might observe. So we had a protracted, ongoing conversations. She wasn’t asking me for permission, by any means, however she was giving me perception into what I ought to do with the characters to place them in good stead naturally for “The Testaments.”

What different characters may you carry over into “The Testaments”?

Anyone who has an hour free, I might carry over, if I may handle to make it work. There are, after all, enterprise issues, however story-wise, I believe loads of them match into “The Testaments” world. These are spectacular folks, they usually’re my mates, they usually do their jobs superbly, and I might be honored to have them come again and be a part of the story once more every time we will determine it out. They’re very linked. I imply, it’s not like a sequel like another issues the place you’re simply reducing it off. The primary set of characters matter massively to the second set of characters. So these tales are very tied collectively, and it’s very a lot a continuation of this “Handmaid’s Story” that we’ve seen. You’re simply following the daughter as a substitute of the mom.

How will June be referenced? Or Nick? In “The Testaments,” Nick has a special position inside Gilead versus how “The Handmaid’s Story” TV sequence ends, so how does that have an effect on what your model will appear like?

We’ll actually reference them, and convey it into reduction much more than it’s within the ebook, and earlier. As a result of the ebook is basically centered on on her life, Agnes and Lydia, and all these factors of view of their life, and solely does it come to bear on the finish. However I believe the place we’re and what we’re doing with the story, with a number of slight variations, they’re considering extra within the entrance of their minds, however characters are considering extra in regards to the explicit individuals who made the adjustments ultimately of the final sequence. So I believe that June is rather more current. And though Agnes doesn’t know within the story that that’s her mom, she’s telling a narrative on reflection in “The Testaments,” identical to “The Handmaid’s Story,” so that Agnes actually is aware of the entire story. So her very unusual, very influential assortment of moms is a giant a part of the story. It’s superb while you begin eager about who the ladies are in her life who’ve influenced her, and, after all, she’s obtained loads of June in her, which suggests she’s huge hassle.

Lots of people have had a tough time accepting Nick’s demise on the finish of Episode 9. There’s been loads of psychological gymnastics folks have made to be like, “He obtained a parachute, and he’s gonna come out of the aircraft and we’ll see him within the finale.” On high that, there’s additionally lots of people who need to imagine that he was in on that plan to explode the aircraft, that he knew about it, and he truly was a part of Mayday, like he’s within the ebook. So are you able to set the file straight on what Nick knew and didn’t and whose facet he was on ultimately?

My sense of that is he at all times thought each aircraft he was going to get on to was going to explode. As a result of he knew, simply even when he wasn’t in with Mayday, he was an Eye, and he knew how robust they have been. And I believe daily, he typically thought it might be his final. I felt like Nick, when he obtained married and when his spouse obtained pregnant, he couldn’t be the person we needed him to be, that he was, that June liked, if he didn’t change his viewpoint to place his little one first. And that’s what she tells him to do. She says, “Kids look to their fathers.” And I believe that if the selection is, actually, in all probability die preventing or abandon your spouse and little one, I can’t think about that he isn’t considering that is the safer route for shielding his household, is to remain in the established order. It’s transferring as much as be safer.

So to me, it didn’t have something to do with Mayday, actually, it simply needed to do with being man. That’s all he needed to attempt to be is an effective man. And as soon as he obtained married and put down roots in Gilead, I assumed, he actually has put in his lot. And he says very clearly, on the finish of Episode 9, “It’s good that you just be a part of the winners.” He doesn’t say the best folks. And that’s all that’s essential to him to guard his household, is that he’s on the successful facet. As a result of June is just not together with her little one, elevating her little one. It’s a lot tougher. So to me, it was a pure development of the nice man that he was, and in addition the nice man that June sort of pulled out of him, that he would by no means in 1,000,000 years abandon his accountability to this son that’s coming into the world. That’s what I assumed. So he’s completely is aware of the potential for Mayday to kill him on a regular basis. And I believe he wasn’t stunned by loads of these things, that he may have stopped a ton of it, however he let all of it undergo. However I believe ultimately, I don’t assume he would’ve been stunned. He wouldn’t have been stunned if Lawrence had informed him beforehand. And I believe he nonetheless would have gotten on the aircraft.

There’s loads of references made to Nick all through the episode as effectively with June wanting up over the storage and issues like that. I do know there wasn’t a ton of time to unpack her emotions surrounding his demise, however how a lot did you need to incorporate that and the way she’s dealing and grieving by way of that?

Oh, completely. It will have been eight episodes about that, and I believe it’ll the following 25 years of her life. We did it as a lot as I assumed she can be coping with it at this stage, this near when it occurred. But it surely underlies all the episode. It’s sort of why she’s having hassle deciding to inform the story or not, is there are folks like Nick, individuals who she was in love with and that is how that factor ended. Plenty of her tales finish terribly, so do you inform them or not? And I believe Luke says, these individuals are superb, they usually can’t be misplaced to historical past, together with him. So I believe the mourning course of is simply starting. She liked each of those guys, however I believe she was in love with Nick on a very huge degree and thru his faults and her faults, I believe they liked one another and at all times puzzled what would have occurred in a special state of affairs. And I don’t assume that’s going to go away. I don’t assume there’s something within the episode that makes you assume June is anyplace close to that. She’s about to inform you how she met him when the present ends. The following factor she says is, “There was this scorching man within the storage.”

Going to the opposite scorching man — Luke, and the way that ends for June. It’s left open ended, the place they plan to fulfill again up and are nonetheless working towards getting Hannah, however aren’t actively a pair. Why finish it that method?

I believe they’ve modified it so much, and due to that, it actually did seem to be the one method that they might finish responsibly, as a result of they’re not going to cease and get to know one another — though I believe they tried to do the quick model of that after they obtained collectively in Toronto. They’re realizing it’s going to be a protracted, sophisticated relationship, nonetheless it finally ends up. And I like that the truth that they love one another has by no means been in query — it’s simply the very fact of whether or not their lives are going to be utterly collectively or partially collectively. He got here into his personal this season in a method the place he felt like he wasn’t going to attempt to make another person’s life higher, he was going to do what he thought was proper and good for the world. He was actually residing his life for the folks round them and tried to maintain them joyful, together with his daughter. However I believe right here he was considering, “If I’m not simply wanting round for somebody to be unhappy, what am I doing?”

Going again a number of episodes right here — this has been sitting with me since they introduced it up: Moira and June have been having a dialog about what Nick did to betray Mayday, they usually deliver up Angelina Jolie, Rihanna and Halle Berry. The place are these girls, Bruce? If these folks exist on this universe, did they develop into Handmaids? Are they Marthas? The place’d they go? Did they get to Hawaii?

I guess all of them, all these folks, are sensible sufficient to get far, far-off. Completely. Rihanna would by no means be caught anyplace close to this, or Angelina Jolie or Halle Berry. So I believe they completely are all in essentially the most stunning, most secure nation that they might probably discover.

Hopefully making an attempt to save lots of us, nonetheless.

Hopefully making an attempt to save lots of us, however I don’t assume any of these folks have been swept up within the horribleness. Thank God.

One of many vivid spots within the finale is the alternate actuality scene June desires the place she is out with all of the Handmaids and Rita at a karaoke bar singing “Landslide.” In a packed finale, how did you determine that dream sequence must be included right here?

I used to be making an attempt to consider, actually, while you undergo a state of affairs like this, ultimately, what does June need? As a result of she doesn’t need issues again the way in which they have been, as a result of then you definitely don’t know Janine or Alma or Nick. So the massive query right here is, what does she need? She lastly says, “I would like issues the way in which they need to have been” — and ought to have been means you do know Janine, and also you do know Alma. So at first of the present within the first few seasons, June didn’t have any desires. She had recollections. The long run was horrible. What would she dream about? She had recollections, and he or she would lay in mattress and take into consideration her daughter. Now, as we get to the very finish of the present within the final season, it’s the primary time we now have any desires within the present. And she or he has a dream at first of Hannah, after which she has a dream on this last episode and it was as a result of she has reached the purpose the place she’s dreaming once more, the place she has aspirations for the way the world must be in constructive methods, not simply bloody commanders in every single place. And in order that’s actually the top, in some methods, this huge a part of her life as a Handmaid, is when she may lastly dream once more.

We don’t get a ton of Serena within the finale, however we do get closure for her, and we get forgiveness from June — which I really feel like may be very daring, and goes to be a controversial determination. Particularly as a result of two episodes prior, and from the start of the season, she stated, “No, I don’t forgive you. I don’t. How may I forgive you?” So why did she make that alternative, and does she genuinely imply it? Or was she saying it as a result of she doesn’t assume she’s going to see Serena once more, and so let’s simply finish it this manner?

I believe it was aspirational, like, “I hope I can imply this,” as a result of proper afterwards, she says, “You need to begin someplace.” So I believe the concept is she’s not likely dedicated to embracing something about this girl, however she is prepared to let go of what ties them collectively, if she will. And I believe that’s what it was about. It wasn’t extra about, “I’m not going to see you once more,” it’s, “I’m not going to have you ever as my horrible factor anymore. You’re going to go away. And I’ve a number of different issues to consider. I’ve a busy life. I’m finished with you, and so I’ve to forgive you, to allow you to go.” And it needs to be introduced up a number of instances the place she’s considering, “I truly don’t fucking forgive you,” earlier within the season. And right here, eager about it, it’s not, “You probably did one thing that was OK,” it’s, “I’m forgiving you.” Within the ebook, that’s one thing Margaret Atwood stated, is that’s what actual energy is — who will get to forgive who. In order that went again to “The Handmaid’s Story.”

Janine is alive. Janine is free. And Janine has Charlotte. And that’s all most individuals have been hoping for at a sure level by the top of the sequence. What motivated you to present that one huge joyful ending to a personality who has been constantly overwhelmed down?

That was superb, and I believe we’ve been working in direction of it for the entire season, when it comes to the puzzle items slowly coming collectively to let that factor that ought to have occurred so way back lastly, lastly occur. Lydia has been going by way of a really attention-grabbing arc that Ann Dowd has been enjoying for 2 or three seasons of reforming, at first to see Janine as a human, after which to see all her ladies, as she calls them, as people. I believe that that is the fruit that that each one bears, is lastly, on this season, Lydia places her cash the place her mouth is a number of instances — and that is one in every of them. And what I needed to indicate was that Lydia and, in a sure sense, Naomi [Ever Carradine], wasn’t going to let her die in there. When she obtained taken by the Eyes, they usually have been going to do one thing to her, Lydia was not going to let that occur. It’s such an emotional heart of the present, these two girls.

But in addition Naomi has come a good distance when it comes to how a lot she believes within the Handmaid system, but additionally how a lot she believes within the stability of Gilead as a future for her daughter. And you’ll’t be a lady in Gilead and never take into consideration your daughter’s future, in case you have a daughter. However I believe that Naomi specifically was at all times considering, “My daughter goes to finish up being on the high echelon of society,” like somebody like Agnes in “The Testaments,” and so she received’t have very many worries. As that begins falling aside round her, she realizes that this little one shall be safer with Janine, and that Janine will do completely all the things to deal with this little one and would lay down her life. So it felt like this pure development for the opposite characters, in addition to Janine, in order that when Janine lastly actually wants assist, she’s laid this groundwork from Lydia, from the primary friggin episode of the tv present, that pays dividend to that second. And she or he plucks her out of there, and he or she does precisely what Janine informed her to not do: “Depart me alone. Don’t trouble. Don’t butt in anymore. I’m wonderful with out you. You simply fuck issues up. Don’t do something.” After which she did, and he or she obtained her out.

The usage of “Look What You Made Me Do” (Taylor’s Model) in Episode 9 had Swifties going loopy. Followers have inspected a few of that scene and seen a personality shot solely from behind that’s strolling in such a method they assume it’s Taylor Swift herself. Was that her? Did Taylor have a cameo?

I can’t say something. I’m not allowed to say something.

“Not allowed to say something”? Effectively, that makes the hypothesis worse!

All proper, I’m good at making issues worse — that’s how I make all of my cash.

How lengthy will or not it’s till we get to see “The Testaments”?

We’re effectively on our method in direction of making it. And we’re in the midst of manufacturing, and it’s such a pleasure. We introduced over so many individuals from “The Handmaid’s Story” that we may: the crew, and Elisabeth Moss and I are working collectively once more, and Warren [Littlefield] and Steve Stark, and Lauren [Thorpe] and all these folks all again collectively. It’s a pleasure to be doing that, and the standard of the work continues to be so superb that each time I’m blown away. So it’s coming a lot before I believe the following season of “Handmaid’s” would have come, however we’re effectively into it, and it’s coming alongside simply splendidly. I believe it’ll be loads of — in the way in which my present is loads of enjoyable, I believe it’ll be loads of enjoyable.

This interview has been edited and condensed.