Hulu is making Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale into a TV series

[backscatter712]

http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/29/11540674/hulu-the-handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood-series

Hulu has given a series order to The Handmaid's Tale, a show based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel of the same name. The story is set in Gilead, a military republic (formerly part of the United States) where a suspension of the Constitution strips women entirely of their rights. Atwood will serve as a consulting producer for the series.

Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) will star as Offred, a handmaid whose sole function in society is a reproductive one. She is "assigned" to The Commander of the new regime, a man named Fred whose relationship with Offred is an unorthodox one.

"The Handmaid's Tale is more relevant now than when it was written, and I am sure the series will be watched with great interest," Atwood said in a statement. "I have read the first two scripts and they are excellent; I can hardly wait to see the finished episodes."

I wonder if they can get Ted Cruz to play The Commander, aka Fred. He'd be perfect!

[villager]

1. So they want to compete with HBO for documentaries now, eh?

[Yavin4]

2. Great casting with Elizabeth Moss!

She's a terrific actress.

[Lisa0825]

3. I am SO excited about this!!!

I loved the book so much I bought extra copies to give to people. It is frightening how possible it sounds given current events!

[HuckleB]

4. Nice.

[Rebkeh]

5. Best news I've heard all day!

I was wondering when somebody was going to get around to it, about damn time too.

I can't say I can easily envision Elizabeth Moss as Offred, but I am open to it.

Can't wait.

[MrScorpio]

6. Excellent! nt

[rusty quoin]

7. I liked the book, not so much the movie.

It was probably the most disturbing stories from Atwood I read, but very good. It's certainly worth a series.

[Ilsa]

8. GOP will see this as a "how to" video manual. NT

[laundry_queen]

9. ha! so true. nt

[ladyVet]

10. When I first read this book, not long after it was published...

I saw how easily this storyline could come to pass. The book scared me so badly I couldn't read any of her other stuff for years. I was married to a religious fundie at the time, and much of what he spouted was very close to some stuff in the book.

People are crazy enough to vote for shit like this (reference Ted Cruz, et. al.) and I don't think the current crop of Democrats would be all that inclined to fight it.

[Paladin]

11. Atwood's novel is more timely today than ever.

Glad to hear about the Hulu series.