Alexis Bledel joins Hulu's 'Handmaid's Tale' series

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Alexis Bledel has joined the cast of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale series.

The 35-year-old actress will star with Elizabeth Moss, Samira Wiley and Joseph Fiennes in the streaming service's forthcoming adaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel.

"NEWS: @alexisbledel joins the cast of The #HandmaidsTale as Ofglen. Premieres April 26, only on Hulu," the show announced Thursday on its official Twitter page.

The Handmaid's Tale is set in the fictional Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian society in the near future where women's rights have been eradicated. The story follows Offred (Moss), one of many "handmaids" forced to bear children for the ruling class.

Bledel will play Ofglen, a fellow handmaid and companion to Offred, in a recurring role, according to Variety. Her character is described as "a pious rule-follower" on the surface who proves to be "daring and subversive."

Hulu gave a series order to The Handmaid's Tale in April 2016. Atwood's novel was previously adapted as a 1990 film starring Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway and Robert DuVall.

Bledel is best known for playing Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls and recently reprised the role on the Netflix revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Netflix appeared to hint at future episodes in a tweet last week.