Actress Kaitlyn Dever has opened up about her role as Abby in HBO's highly anticipated The Last of Us Season 2, sharing her struggles with resisting the urge to check online reactions. The character of Abby has been at the center of significant online toxicity, with some fans crossing the line by harassing Naughty Dog employees, including co-creator Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, with threats and abuse directed at them and their families.
The intensity of the backlash prompted HBO to take extra precautions, providing Dever with additional security during the filming of Season 2. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in the series, highlighted the absurdity of the situation, stating, "There's so many strange people in this world because there are people that actually genuinely hate Abby, who is not a real person. Just a reminder: not a real person."
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
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In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Dever discussed the anticipation surrounding her portrayal of Abby. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she admitted. She expressed her desire to do justice to the character and make fans proud while emphasizing her focus on collaborating with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to capture Abby's essence, including her emotional depth and motivations.
The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's New and Coming Back to the HBO Show?
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Last month, Druckmann revealed that the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 would portray Abby differently from her video game counterpart. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that the show's version of Abby wouldn't need to be as physically imposing because the narrative focuses more on drama than on the mechanics of gameplay. Druckmann praised Dever's casting, noting that while the game required Abby to play differently from Ellie for gameplay reasons, the show's priorities allowed for a different approach.
Craig Mazin added that this change presents an opportunity to explore Abby's vulnerability and strength in new ways, focusing on her spirit and how her formidable nature manifests. This shift in focus aligns with HBO's plans to extend the story of The Last of Us Part 2 beyond a single season. Although Season 3 has not been greenlit yet, Mazin mentioned that Season 2 has been structured with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, allowing for a potential continuation of the story.
