Summary
- Kaitlyn Dever is reportedly the top contender to play Abby in The Last of Us season 2, showing her range as an actress.
- Some fans are confused about the casting choice since Dever is smaller in stature than the character of Abby, who is physically strong.
- Dever's previous performances, like in Justified and Booksmart, have showcased her dramatic range and make her a strong choice for the role of Abby.
HBO's The Last of Us season 2 has one big element it has to nail, and it looks like the folks in charge have officially found the actress to make it happen. That's right, the beloved series may have finally found its Abby.
Abby, effectively the deuteragonist of the massive hit Naughty Dog video game The Last of Us Part II, will play a similarly important role in the second season of HBO's adaptation. Many have been wondering how the TV version of The Last of Us Part II's story will be structured, given how the game had players switching between the perspectives of returning character Ellie and newcomer Abby. But while that remains a question for another day, a more important one seems to have been answered. One actress is reportedly in talks to play the character in The Last of Us season 2, and she's got the range.
Entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider reported that Kaitlyn Dever is the top contender to play Abby in HBO's The Last of Us season 2. While this claim has yet to be verified by official sources, Sneider does have a proven track record for this sort of thing. Plus, it also helps that Dever was originally in the running to play Ellie, so showrunner Craig Mazin and The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann could be keeping things in the family, as it were. Eagle-eared fans will also note that Dever voiced Cassie Drake in the ending epilogue of Naughty Dog's Uncharted 4, also directed by Druckmann. However, some fans are already a bit confused about the casting.
Those who have played The Last of Us Part II will remember that Abby spent the game as an antagonist to Ellie, who herself had taken on the player role after only being playable for a short time in the original The Last of Us. While the two characters are opposed, Abby and Ellie are two sides of the same coin. Dever has proven range from her past and current projects, but there's also a physical aspect. Abby spent a good chunk of her time in The Last of Us Part II pumping iron to aid in her personal revenge mission over events from the first game. But fans have been pointing out that Dever is noticeably smaller in stature. So it will be interesting to see how things play out.
Of course, it's unfair to judge based on appearance, and that goes doubly for someone like Dever, who boasts a genuinely impressive resume. Many will recognize her as Loretta from a particularly intense and widely-praised season of FX's Justified. But more recently, she starred in Olivia Wilde's Booksmart and the Hulu miniseries Dopesick. Her dramatic range had people clamoring to see her play Ellie in The Last of Us as far back as 2020, and it seems that with Bella Ramsey taking that role, this is easily the next best possibility.
Reportedly, Dever's performance in the recently-released Hulu film No One Will Save You put her on the radar for The Last of Us. But any of her previous parts could have easily been the catalyst. Some may see this as a vindication of their unfounded criticisms of Abby's muscular appearance in the game. But one thing's certain: Dever has the chops for it.
The Last of Us season 2 is set to begin production in early 2024. Season 1 is available to stream on Max.
The Last of Us
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
Based on Naughty Dog's popular PlayStation game, HBO's The Last of Us takes place decades after a fungal infection eradicated most of humanity. When a teenage girl named Ellie is found to be immune to the disease, Joel agrees to smuggle her across the United States.
- Network
- HBO
- Main Genre
- Horror
Source: Jeff Sneider