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. HBO took this into account during filming, providing Dever with extra security. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina, commented on the disturbing reality of fans directing hate 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 portrayal of Abby, admitting it's hard to avoid online commentary. Her focus, however, remained on collaborating with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to authentically portray Abby's core motivations, emotional state, and inner turmoil, including her anger, frustration, and grief.

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Neil Druckmann recently clarified that the HBO adaptation will not depict Abby with the same muscular physique as in the game, as the show prioritizes dramatic storytelling over replicating specific game mechanics. Druckmann emphasized that Dever's performance is exceptional, highlighting the difference in how Ellie and Abby are presented in the show versus the game. Craig Mazin added that this adaptation allows for exploring a more vulnerable yet spiritually stronger Abby, focusing on the origins and manifestation of her formidable nature.

The decision to create a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes in Season 2 suggests HBO's intention to adapt The Last of Us Part II beyond a single season, despite not yet confirming a Season 3. Mazin previously indicated that Part II contains substantial story material requiring further adaptation.