Actress Kaitlyn Dever, set to play Abby in HBO's much-anticipated The Last of Us Season 2, has opened up about the challenges of tuning out the internet's reaction to her role. The character of Abby has been a focal point of controversy, with some fans expressing their discontent in extreme ways, including harassing Naughty Dog employees like Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey. The harassment extended to threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young son, highlighting the intense toxicity surrounding the character.
HBO took the potential for such reactions seriously, providing Dever with additional security during filming to ensure her safety. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in the series, commented on the situation, saying, "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 her approach to the role amidst the anticipation and scrutiny. "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, 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."
Dever emphasized her focus on the creative process, working closely with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to capture Abby's essence. "But my main focus was just the collaboration between Neil 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."
The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's New and Coming Back to the HBO Show?
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Last month, Druckmann shared insights into the adaptation process, noting that Abby's portrayal in the HBO series would differ from the video game. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that Dever did not need to bulk up for the role because the show's focus is more on drama than on the mechanical distinctions between characters like Abby and Ellie. "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role," Druckmann said. "In the game, you have to play both [Ellie and Abby] and we need them to play differently. We needed Ellie to feel smaller and kind of maneuver around, and Abby was meant to play more like Joel in that she's almost like a brute in the way she can physically manhandle certain things."
Druckmann further elaborated that the series prioritizes storytelling over action, stating, "That doesn't play as big of a role in this version of the story because there's not as much violent action moment to moment. It's more about the drama. I'm not saying there's no action here. It's just, again, different priorities and how you approach it."
Craig Mazin added his perspective, highlighting the opportunity to explore Abby's vulnerability and strength in a new light. "I personally think there is an amazing opportunity here to delve into someone who is perhaps physically more vulnerable than the Abby in the game, but whose spirit is stronger. And then the question is: 'Where does her formidable nature come from and how does it manifest?' That's something that will be explored now and later."
Mazin's mention of "now and later" hints at HBO's plans to extend the narrative of The Last of Us Part 2 beyond a single season. While Season 3 has not been officially greenlit, the creators have structured Season 2 to end with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for further exploration of the story.
