“Mad Men” and “Top of the Lake” star Elisabeth Moss has signed on to an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Streaming service Hulu has taken on a 10-episode straight-to-series order for the show, which is set to debut in 2017.
Atwood is on board as a consulting producer on the property; Fran Sears (“The Sophisticated Gents”) will co-executive producer along with Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, and Daniel Wilson.
According to THR’s synopsis, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” tells the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, “a totalitarian society in what was formerly part of the U.S. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted religious fundamentalism that treats women as property of the state. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Moss) is a handmaid in the commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world. She is forced to navigate between commanders, their cruel wives, domestic “Marthas” (servants) and her fellow handmaids — where anyone could be a spy for Gilead — all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.”
This news marks Moss’ continuation of taking on complex and interesting female characters. She is also returning for Season 2 of the Sundance TV/BBC Two drama “Top of the Lake.” Jane Campion is returning to direct, and “Game of Thrones’” Gwendoline Christie is joining the cast.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” isn’t the only Atwood TV adaptation in the works. HBO is making a drama series called “MaddAddam,” which will be based on Atwood’s trilogy that features the books “Oryx and Crake” (2003), “Year Of The Flood” (2009), and “MaddAddam” (2013).
