Bruce Miller, creator and showrunner of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and its sequel series, reveals how he smuggled one of Trump’s biggest agitators into Gilead.

Yes, that is the A-list late night host you hear as the voice of the resistance on The Testaments

Bruce Miller, creator and showrunner of "The Handmaid's Tale" and its sequel series, reveals how he smuggled one of Trump's biggest agitators into Gilead.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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April 8, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday on 'The Testaments'. Credit:

Disney/Russ Martin

"Welcome to *The Late Show*, I'm your host Aunt Lydia" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

The series premiere of *The Testaments*, the immersive and unnerving sequel to the Emmy-winning dystopian hit *The Handmaid's Tale*, was full of surprises. From the head-turning return of Elisabeth Moss' June Osborne, to the startling first look at Ann Dowd's Aunt Lydia, feet firmly planted back in Gilead once more after a brutal lashing from June in the *Handmaid's Tale *series finale.

One other moment from the first of Tuesday's three-episode premiere likely caught some ears. But not all, for it only lasted a few seconds, and was easily eclipsed by Moss' sudden appearance in the closing scene. It's when Lucy Halliday's Daisy, a stowaway from the world outside Gilead, bent on infiltrating its imperial core (on June's orders), reveals to the audience she's not the pious acolyte that she appears to be.

In *The Testaments*' first episode, Daisy climbs into her bed at Aunt Lydia's chilly pre-marital preparatory school for girls, waits for the old scold to leave, climbs back out to fetch a stashed radio, and tunes the frequency to a certain, familiar voice...

Lucy Halliday and Olivier Lamarche on 'The Testaments'.

Disney/Russ Martin

"This is Radio Free Boston. If you're hoping for some tunes, you're in the right place," the voice says, striking an unmistakable chord for fans of satirical news programs, late night chat shows, *Strangers With Candy*.

"For our Mayday heroes behind the lines, tonight's messages are on channel 99.2. And don't forget," the voice continues, echoing the indelible rallying cry of *The Handmaid's Tale*'s indefatigable resistance network:* "*Don't let the batards grind you down."

Yes, the voice of the resistance on *The Testaments *belongs to Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' in 2022.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

"He very kindly did that for us, and I couldn't think of anybody more appropriate to have on Radio Free Boston as the announcer," says Bruce Miller, the creator and showrunner of both *The Handmaid's Tale *and *The Testaments.*

* *sat down with Miller before the *Testaments *premiere to get the low-down on Moss, Colbert, and this nightmarish new vision of Gilead, set four years after June and Mayday dealt the fascist republic a devastating blow. Although not lethal, hence the need for Colbert's missives over the airwaves, informing operatives far afield like June and Daisy of the piecemeal plan to bring Gilead down once and for all.

'The Handmaid's Tale' finale recap: The series comes to a heartfelt end

Stephen Colbert calls out Americans who still strongly approve of Donald Trump: 'Who are you?!'

Miller says Colbert's outspoken resistance to President Donald Trump, for which he's paid a steep price, made him an obvious choice for the part. In fact, it was "right around" the time *The Late Show *was canceled amid heavy pressure for network CBS to cave to the Trump administration that he put in a call to Colbert.

"You know, I knew that he'd be available, and he probably needed work," Miller joked.

Lucy Halliday in 'The Testaments'.

"I thought he'd be great for the job," Miller continues sincerely. "He was wonderful to do it. I feel like he's been a voice, you know. He's a voice of America I was putting out on the airways. It's just like Oprah."

Indeed, the iconic daytime host provided a similar voice cameo in a 2018 episode of *The Handmaid's Tale*, announcing international sanctions on Gilead and a new American refugee program just when June needed some good news. “Now a tune to remind everyone who's listening, American patriot or Gilead traitor, that we are still here," Winfrey's announcer signs off. "Stars and stripes forever, baby."

Miller continues, "Knowing who Oprah was, knowing Stephen Colbert, his voice, even *The Colbert Report* that he used to do, all of that put together into a free speech context, and what America should stand for was fascinating. And look, it only took 16 words!" 41 in fact, and perhaps there'll be more, as the war on Gilead rages on.

*The Testaments *premieres new episodes Tuesdays on Hulu.

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