Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black) has joined the cast of Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale alongside Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men).
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The 10-episode drama follows a totalitarian society which has a shortage of fertile females called Gilead, which the show’s official description describes as a world “ruled by a twisted religious fundamentalism that treats women as property of the state”. The series is based on the popular dystopian novel from Margaret Atwood, who will serve as a consulting producer. 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.
Wiley’s character is Offred’s college pal and a fellow handmaid trainee, per The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the casting. It is Offred’s memories of Moira that safeguard her connection to the past, and, often, her sanity.
The cast also includes Max Minghella (The Mindy Project) and Ann Dowd (The Leftovers), and is expected to debut next year.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is executive produced and written by Bruce Miller, who is known for his work on TV series such as “Medium” and “ER”.
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Next for Wiley is Lionsgate’s cyber thriller “Nerve”, which had a sneak screening at Comic-Con last week ahead of its Wednesday release.
