With The Last of Us Season 2 just over a month away, fans can expect the return of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), along with the introduction of a major new character: Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. In The Last of Us Part II video game, Abby emerged as a key figure—either an antagonist or protagonist, depending on perspective—sparking intense debate among fans. Dever faces a challenge stepping into such a divisive role, and she recently acknowledged that she’s fully aware of the ongoing discussions surrounding her character.
In an interview with Screen Rant at SXSW, Kaitlyn Dever admitted that avoiding online discussions about Abby and her casting in The Last of Us Season 2 is difficult.
Well, it’s hard not to see those things on the internet,
she said
While some fans have opposed her casting—partly due to the decision by Dever and showrunner Craig Mazin to adjust Abby’s muscular look from the video game—the actress is committed to portraying the character faithfully in Seasons 2 and 3. She added:
It’s hard not to stop myself from looking at it every once in a while, especially going into this, for sure. And I want to do this character justice and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in this kind of way.
During the interview, Dever briefly touched on the changes made to Abby in HBO’s adaptation. She emphasized that her “main focus was just the collaboration between Neil [Druckmann] and Craig, and making sure I was really getting to the core of who she is and what drives her and her emotional state; her anger and her frustration and her grief and all of that. I wanted to make sure that that was what I was focusing most of my energy on.”
Abby isn’t the only threat Joel and Ellie will face in The Last of Us Season 2. The latest trailer teases the arrival of a painful element from the controversial second game. Alongside cannibalistic gangs, remnants of the Fireflies, the Seraphites, the Washington Liberation Front, and FEDRA, a new type of infected emerges. In The Last of Us Part II, players had to navigate not only clickers and bloaters but also spore-infected areas. While Ellie was immune to the fungal spores, other characters relied on gas masks, as even minimal exposure could lead to infection.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on April 13. Along with Pascal, Ramsay, and Dever, the cast includes Isabela Merced, Jeffrey Wright, Gabriel Luna, and Catherine O’Hara. The series has already been renewed for a third season, though a release date has yet to be announced. Given the events of The Last of Us Part II, Season 3 is expected to extend the storyline with another set of episodes.
Source: Screen Rant