Now The Last of Us fans have a face to put to a very important name.
Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as Abby in Season 2 of the HBO drama, TVLine has learned.
Per the character’s official description, Abby is “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.” Those who’ve played The Last of Us Part II video game know that Abby plays a pivotal part in the proceedings (but, because of spoilers, that’s all we’ll say for now).
In a statement, show bosses Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said: “Our casting process for Season 2 has been identical to Season 1: We look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material. Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro [Pascal], Bella [Ramsey] and the rest of our family.”
Dever’s TV credits include Unbelievable, Dopesick, Last Man Standing, Monsterland and Justified; her big-screen work includes No One Will Save You, Booksmart and Dear Evan Hansen.
The Last of Us Season 2: Everything We Know So Far
It’s been a while since the series’ season-ender, so here’s a refresher: After the Fireflies ambushed Joel and Ellie, they separated the pair and prepped Ellie for surgery to harvest some of her cells, in hopes of creating a cure for Cordyceps infection. But when Joel learned that doing so would mean ending her life — and that the Fireflies hadn’t told Ellie that taking part in the research would ensure her death — he went on a murderous rampage. He killed nearly everyone in the hospital to get to Ellie, who was already anesthetized in preparation for the procedure. When Fireflies leader Marlene put up a last-ditch fight for the girl, Joel killed her, as well. He later lied to Ellie about what had happened. (Read a full recap.)
After the Season 1 finale aired, series co-creator Craig Mazin said Joel’s actions were confusing from a moral standpoint and that he, as a viewer, wasn’t sure how he felt about them. “I think it’s a difficult choice. I go back and forth, and I think a lot of people will go back and forth on it,” he said.
Neil Druckmann, creator of the videogame and co-creator of HBO’s adaptation, added that the game was always trying to make the player “feel the unconditional love a parent feels for their child, and this worry and fear and love that can come with it. But then sometimes, you know, when you love something unconditionally, logic goes out the window. And you will do really horrible things to protect the ones you love, and there’s a lot of examples worldwide of this happening all the time.”
Mazin and Druckmann also have said that although Season 1 of the series covered the events of the 2013 video game, telling the story of its sequel —The Last of Us: Part II — will require more than one season. Currently, the show is renewed for Season 2, which is slated to air sometime in 2025. (Find out what other HBO series won’t return until then.)
