The Last of Us Season 2's Abby, Kaitlyn Dever, Says It's 'Hard Not to See Those Things on the Internet'

Actress Kaitlyn Dever, cast as Abby in The Last of Us Season 2, acknowledges the difficulty of ignoring online reactions to her portrayal. The character of Abby has been the target of significant online toxicity, with harassment directed at Naughty Dog employees, including Neil Druckmann and Laura Bailey, extending to threats and abuse against Bailey's family. This negative reception prompted HBO to provide Dever with extra security during filming. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina, commented on the disturbing reality of fans directing hatred towards a fictional character.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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In a ScreenRant interview, Dever discussed the anticipation surrounding her performance: “Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet,” she admitted. “It's hard not to stop myself from looking at it every once in a while, especially going into this. And I want to do this character justice and make the fans proud by bringing her to life. But my main focus was the collaboration with Neil and Craig [Mazin], and ensuring I understood Abby's core motivations, her emotional state—her anger, frustration, grief—to truly embody her.”

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Neil Druckmann recently explained that the HBO adaptation will differ from the game's depiction of Abby's physique. The showrunners, Druckmann and Craig Mazin, told Entertainment Weekly that Dever didn't need to undergo a physical transformation because Abby's physicality isn't as crucial to the show's narrative as it was in the game's mechanics. Druckmann praised Dever's casting, emphasizing the differing requirements for portraying Ellie and Abby in the game versus the show. Mazin added that the series explores a more "physically vulnerable" yet "spiritually stronger" Abby, focusing on the origins and manifestation of her strength.

The mention of "now and later" hints at HBO's intention to adapt The Last of Us Part II beyond a single season. Mazin previously stated that Part II offers substantial story material. While Season 3 isn't confirmed, Season 2 is structured with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes.