Actress Kaitlyn Dever has opened up about the challenges of portraying Abby in HBO's highly anticipated Season 2 of *The Last of Us*. Dever admitted that she struggles to resist the urge to check online reactions to her character, a role that has sparked significant controversy among fans. Abby, a central figure in the narrative, has been at the heart of much online toxicity, with some fans even going so far as to harass Naughty Dog employees, including co-president Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey. The harassment has been severe, including threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young child.
The intensity of the backlash led HBO to take extra precautions during the filming of Season 2, providing Dever with additional security to protect against potential threats. 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 the anticipation surrounding her portrayal of Abby. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she admitted. She emphasized her commitment to doing justice to the character and pleasing fans, but her primary focus remains on the collaborative process with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. "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," Dever explained.
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 not portray Abby as the muscular character she is in the video game, as the show's narrative does not require the same level of physical distinction between Abby and Ellie. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Mazin explained that Dever's physical preparation for the role did not need to be as intense because the series focuses more on drama than on the mechanical distinctions seen in the game.
Druckmann noted, "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role. 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. 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."
Mazin added his perspective, saying, "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."
This comment hints at HBO's intention to extend the story of *The Last of Us Part 2* beyond a single season. While Season 3 has not been officially announced, Mazin has indicated that Season 2 has been structured with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for further exploration of Abby's character and the broader narrative.
