During a press conference for the new season of The Last of Us, which ScreenRant attended, Dever revealed her feelings on joining the series. Sharing her love for the first season, the star stated that she had been a longtime fan of the franchise ever since playing the original game, and was glad to see that she had a chance to join an adaptation after having taken part in a table read for a movie adaptation that never came to fruition. Check out Dever's full response below:
It was sort of surreal because I had since become such a huge fan of the show. I loved what the two of them [Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann] did in this first season. It was just pure magic. It was really so wonderful.
I was a fan of the game. It was like a real bonding moment for me and my dad, playing it together. And to have it come back around ten plus years later, it really felt like something I always thought about. I just admired this story so much and what you did. When it did come back around, it felt surreal because it really kind of felt like, "Things that are meant to be in your life will happen if they're supposed to." And it just felt right. Abby felt right. It was very cool.
What This Means For The Last Of Us
Dever's Original Role Is A Far Cry From Her TV Character
Few details are known about the scrapped Last of Us movie, as the feature-length production went through a turbulent development before ultimately being cancelled. Beginning production in 2014, the movie would have seen creator Neil Druckmann join forces with Sam Raimi, and had reportedly been through several drafts and a table read that Dever was attached to before conflicts with Sony over a potential veer into a more action-heavy direction. The feature's development was scrapped in 2019 once Sony relinquished the rights, opening the way for its television series to begin development in 2020.
Dever's involvement in the scrapped movie adaptation would have seen her take on the role of Ellie, the rival to her television series character who would eventually be played by Bella Ramsey once work on the series began. With Dever having been a celebrated actor prior to her involvement in the table read, it is likely her casting as the survivor would have been well-received, bringing attention to her ahead of her breakthrough roles in 2019. As such, Dever could be a perfect choice to play the young survivor, capturing her complex determination and innocence in a twisted world.
Our Thoughts On Dever's Long-Awaited The Last of Us Debut
The Star Has A Clear Passion For The Franchise
Though Dever may be playing her original potential movie character's most bitter rival, it is clear that she still holds the same passion that left her eager to join the scrapped movie production. The franchise holds a special place in Dever's heart, which is a positive sign as she joins a cast and crew who have shown that their shared love for the franchise helped them craft the television adaptation. As audiences await Abby's arrival, many may wonder whether her past attempt helped inform how she approached bringing Ellie's foe and The Last of Us' most controversial protagonist to life.
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