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 extending to Naughty Dog employees, including Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, involving threats and abuse targeting their families. This negative reception prompted HBO to provide Dever with extra security during filming. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina, commented on the disturbing reality of fans directing hate towards a fictional character, emphasizing that Abby is not a real person.
The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters
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In a ScreenRant interview, Dever discussed the anticipation surrounding her performance. She admitted to occasionally checking online reactions, driven by a desire to do justice to the character and win over fans. However, her primary focus remained on collaborating with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, aiming to authentically portray Abby's core motivations, emotions, and internal struggles, including her anger, frustration, and grief.
The Last of Us Season 2 Cast: Who's New and Coming Back to the HBO Show?
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Neil Druckmann revealed that the HBO adaptation will deviate from the game's portrayal of Abby's physique. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that Dever's casting negated the need for her to physically emulate the game's Abby, whose build served specific gameplay mechanics. Druckmann highlighted the difficulty of finding an actress as talented as Dever, emphasizing the different acting requirements for Ellie and Abby in the game. He explained that the show prioritizes drama over constant violent action, making Abby's physicality less crucial. Craig Mazin added that the show explores a more vulnerable yet spiritually stronger Abby, focusing on the origins and manifestations of her formidable nature. The show's plan to potentially extend beyond a single season, unlike Season 1, was also mentioned. Mazin stated that The Last of Us Part 2 offers ample story material, and while Season 3 isn't confirmed, Season 2 concludes with a natural breakpoint after seven episodes.
