Bradley Whitford has joined the cast of Universal’s upcoming adaptation of Reminders of Him, while reprising his role as Commander Joseph Lawrence in the final season of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Whitford will portray Patrick Landry in Reminders of Him, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel. The film centers on Kenna Rowan, a young mother seeking to reconnect with her daughter after serving five years in prison. Maika Monroe leads the cast as Kenna, alongside Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, and Nicholas Duvernay. Whitford’s character, Patrick, has guardianship of Kenna’s daughter with his wife Grace, played by Graham.
Directed by Vanessa Caswill, the film features a script co-written by Hoover and Lauren Levine. Hoover and Levine are producing through Heartbones Entertainment, with Gina Matthews of Little Engine Productions. Robin Fisichella is executive producing, while Christine Sun oversees for Universal.
Whitford’s casting announcement coincides with the premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale season six, where he continues his portrayal of the morally complex Commander Lawrence. The season introduces New Bethlehem, a settlement framed as a place of reform but designed to lure defectors back under the appearance of offering mercy and peace. Whitford described the project within the show as “an economic engine,” highlighting Lawrence’s pragmatic, rather than altruistic, motivations.
In discussing the real-world themes reflected in the series, Whitford pointed to the increasing restrictions on reproductive rights in the United States. He cited the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a development that echoes the oppression depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale. “After Roe v. Wade was overturned, states began to deny pregnant rape victims in the United States access to abortion care,” he said. “They’re forced to carry to term the child of their rapist.”
Whitford emphasized the importance of action over despair during periods of political and social unrest, expressing admiration for the resilience displayed by his co-star Elisabeth Moss’s character, June Osborne. “June embodies an important message during difficult times – that despair is a luxury our children can’t afford and action is the antidote,” he said.
Moss’s contributions extend behind the camera in the new season, as she directs four episodes. Whitford praised her directorial work, calling her “an incredible director” and speaking highly of their working relationship. Recalling their earlier collaboration when Moss was a teenager on The West Wing, Whitford remarked on her growth into a leading creative force on the series.
Commander Lawrence remains a pivotal figure in the show’s final episodes, embodying internal conflict as he confronts the consequences of Gilead’s formation. Whitford explained that Lawrence initially viewed the theocratic regime as a method for implementing his ideas but later recognized the personal destruction it caused, particularly after the loss of his wife. “He saw these religious wackos as a delivery system for his ideas, and he justified it,” Whitford said. “It didn’t hit home until he realized it destroyed his wife, who he adored.”
Reflecting on the challenges of playing a character shaped by contradictions, Whitford said, “He was always morally ambiguous. I was worried about where he would end up on that spectrum. But having more than one thing going on at a time is the key to the most interesting acting experience.”
In addition to his work on Reminders of Him and The Handmaid’s Tale, Whitford recently starred opposite Amy Landecker in For Worse, an indie romantic comedy that premiered at SXSW, and he is set to appear in Death by Lightning, a historical miniseries for Netflix created by Mike Makowsky. He is represented by Greenlight Management and Production, Gersh, and Peikoff Mahan Law.