Conservatism has increased the importance of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” says the producer

“The Handmaid’s Tale” executive producer Warren Littlefield said Friday’s decision by the US Supreme Court allowing conservative states to consider abortion illegal made the streaming dystopian series even more relevant.

“We’ve said many times over the years that we’d like to be less relevant, but unfortunately the show was frighteningly relevant. And today it seems even more relevant,” he said in an interview with US website Deadline. “I think we all want to be this bizarre, dystopian concept that no one would believe. We all want to be just fantasy science fiction.”

The fact is that the series went from screen to reality, and several women dressed as plot maids went to protest before the Supreme Court during the trial that restored women’s reproductive rights to a pre-1970s condition.

Written by Margaret Atwood, the science fiction novel adapted into the award-winning series takes place in the near future, when the United States is transformed into a religious and totalitarian patriarchy – known as the Republic of Gilead – in which women are repressed.

The series began development in the spring of 2016 by creator Bruce Miller, when no one imagined that a threat to reproductive rights could arise during its airing. But already in the autumn everything began to change.

“We all stayed up late on election night, feeling like we were celebrating the inauguration of the first female president of the United States. [‘The Handmaid’s Tale’] it would still be relevant and important, “Littlefield recalled.” Suddenly, Trump was elected and the world changed. When we went on the air [em abril de 2017]it was the beginning of the Trump administration, “and from there” The Handmaid’s Tale “acquired surprising relevance.

It was Trump who formed the conservative majority of the Supreme Court, replacing progressive judges like the legendary Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020, with supporters of repressive legislation. The conservative wave has also led to a number of changes to state laws in states such as Georgia, Ohio, and Texas. And the more the rights regressed, the more the maid costumes were seen in the protests, becoming a symbol of resistance.

“It is a huge source of pride to see the protests across the country – and even the protests around the world – in which women wear the maid costume – the red robes, the hats – and we see this become a symbol of the struggle for freedom. and women’s rights, “Littlefield said. “But today I feel tremendous sadness, anger and frustration at who we are now and what it says. In recent years we have seen the rise of the far right across the planet and with the rise of that movement, restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms have been continuous “.

The producer also noted that the political difference seen in the series, between Gilead (USA) and Canada, was also reflected in the way the Americans in the production, shot in Canada, received the support of the local team following the Supreme Court decision. . “I’ve heard from several Canadians who work with us, ‘We are as sad as you are and we are with you,'” he said. “So there has been a connection, where the citizens of the world are shocked and dismayed and realize that our dramatic narrative is getting closer and closer to reality, and it’s extremely uncomfortable. But it also tells us that we are a beacon. important, and that’s our little part in it, I suppose. “

He added that season 5, first scheduled for September 14, “will unfold in the way the right has infiltrated even Canada, which was previously considered a very sacred place.” “We will show that Gilead grows there too,” she added.

Littlefield added that there was no need to make any last-minute changes to the episodes of the series to reflect the conservative turn of the real world. The crew is currently shooting the final two chapters of the season, directed by series stars Bradley Whitford (episode 9) and Elizabeth Moss (the season finale).

“I suspect there won’t be [mudanças] because we have a very powerful narrative. I mean, the show echoes what we live in today, “she explained.

In the interview with the press the producer was asked if the advance of conservatism did not justify the continuity of the series, or at least a renewal for the 6th season.

“I think from day one, the goal was to have a powerful and dramatic narrative with June fighting and we, as an audience, joined her in search of hope. Well, she didn’t give up and she didn’t give up. we can give up on. ” the producer said. “I think it’s an important and powerful message that despite everything June has to go through at Gilead, there’s a ray of hope in her struggle and determination. I think it’s valuable and important, we’re still relevant and as long as Bruce and the team of the writers think there is more to say, that’s what we’re going to do. “

Produced by MGM and shown on the Hulu platform in the US, “The Handmaid’s Tale” comes to Brazil from Paramount + and Globoplay.

Source: Terra

Emily

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