Naman Shrestha
A sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ Hulu’s ‘The Testaments’ is a dystopian coming-of-age drama series that picks up a few years after the events of the original and centers on a new generation of young teenagers in Gilead, including Agnes and Daisy. As the two teens navigate the rules and regulations of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school, they must stay obedient if they don’t want brutal forces used against them. With the prospect of being married off looming over them, they form an unexpected and unbreakable bond that transforms their present and their destiny.
Adapted from the 2019 novel titled ‘The Testaments’ by Margaret Atwood, the show features a group of talented actors, including Ann Dowd, Chase Infiniti, Lucy Halliday, Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, and more. Created by Bruce Miller, the narrative of the two teens unfolds in the familiar hallways of Gilead, where the teens are subjected to instances of brutality.
The Testaments Filming Locations
‘The Testaments’ is filmed primarily in Ontario, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, Cambridge, and Hamilton. According to reports, principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the sequel series got underway in early April 2025 under the working title ‘Dollhouse’ and went on for over four months before wrapping up in August of the same year.
Greater Toronto Area, Ontario
The production team of ‘The Testaments’ chose the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario to showcase the inner workings of Gilead over 15 years post the events of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ A portion of the shooting took place in and around Toronto, the capital of the province. As the city is a prominent filming destination across the globe, it is home to many production studios. For the purpose of taping the dystopian saga, the crew utilized the services of Cinespace Studios at 777 Kipling Avenue #300 campus in the administrative district of Etobicoke. It is not surprising, given that the facility served as one of the primary filming spots for the original series since its inception.
In fact, the scenes for the sequel were recorded on The Handmaid’s Tale Stage at the shooting complex. In April 2025, following the wrap of the final season of the aforementioned Hulu original, Cinespace Studios decided to name a 20,000-square-foot sound stage in honor of the show’s “longstanding relationship” with the studio and its impact on Toronto’s overall production scene. Besides, in early 2025, the cast and crew of ‘The Testaments’ were spotted filming in the city of Downtown Oshawa, located on the tip of Lake Ontario about 60 kms east of downtown Toronto. According to reports, some sequences were also lensed in a Memorial Park in the region.
Furthermore, the town of Oakville in the Regional Municipality of Halton also doubled up as a shooting site for the series. In particular, Chelster Hall at 1150 Lakeshore Road East stood in Ardua Hall, as well as many other residences of the Commanders in Gilead. The elegant architecture and sleek interiors of the mansion added an extra layer of grandeur and authority to the show’s visual canvas. The team also visited the sprawling estate of Escarpment House, located in the Pulpit Ridge area of Caledon, to depict additional homes of the privileged class. Formerly known as Stoneridge Hall, the 14,000 square feet luxury estate near the Niagara Escarpment features picturesque views and stately grounds, perfectly reflecting the elite status of the powerful figures.
Other Locations in Ontario
Alongside the locations mentioned above, the team of ‘The Testaments’ also moved to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, setting up camp in Cambridge. In the city, filming was carried out at The Cambridge Main Street Bridge at 147190 Main Street. An iconic landmark in the area, the concrete bowstring arch bridge has been standing tall since 1931, offering stunning views of the Grand River. A few scenes were also shot in the port city of Hamilton, which is also a popular shooting destination. The cast and crew also showed up to tape a minor portion inside a property on Victoria Street in Dundas. The homes on the residential street exude historic charm.
