This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for The Last of Us 2The HBO adaptation of the acclaimed video game The Last of Us is still airing new episodes of its first season but is already a major hit both with fans of the game and those going in blind. At only a few episodes in, the show has already received wide critical acclaim, revived interest in the games, broken ratings records, and been renewed for a second season. And it is that last bit of news that has peaked the interest of fans, in a season two of The Last of Us, which will presumably cover The Last of Us Part 2, those familiar with the story are eager to know who HBO will cast to portray the series' most controversial character of Abby.
The TV show premiered in a time when fans are speculating about potential Last Of Us Part 3. While many have expressed interest in a prequel game that would explore what Joel and later Ellie got up to in the Twenty years between the start of the outbreak and the moment the two of them actually meet, many have argued instead for another sequel to turn The Last of Us into a proper trilogy. The fates of many characters are left ambiguous at the end of the second game, with many finally coming to fully confront their grief as they transition into an era where the undead are significantly less of a threat and communities have begun to rebuild. Giving fans a chance to watch these characters they've grown to love fully heal from what they've been through could bring a hopeful end to a story known for its bleak themes.
Casting the Controversial Character Abby Will be Difficult
Abigail Anderson is an extremely divisive character among The Last of Us players. The immensely strong member of the Fireflies appears almost as an unstoppable force of nature for the first half of the game, with her introduction being her brutal killing of Joel as Ellie begs her to stop, she is presented to players as a terrifying figure who they then go on a mission with Ellie to hunt down for revenge. Only for her to get the drop on Ellie and then have them play through the next portion of the game as her before seeing how their confrontation ends, forcing players to see her perspective of Joel having killed her father and how her revenge quest to kill him brought her no personal closure in a way that parallels Ellie's own vain quest for vengeance. Whatever creative decisions are made in regard to season 2, Abby is an incredibly complex character, and casting her will be no mean feat.
Shannon Berry
Although nothing is yet confirmed, fans are already hearing rumors about The Wild's star Shannon Berry being eyed for the role. She has both the experience and the personality to make for a good portrayal of the force of nature that is Abby, but for now these are just rumors with not even a hint from the show runners to confirm either way. Berry's portrayal as the lovable but hardened Dot Campbell shares much in common with the character of Abby. The lengths she goes to out of love for her father would carry over well to the lengths that Abby goes to in order to avenge him. And Dot's love of survival shows that allows her to succeed on the island would also be just as applicable after the societal fall seen in The Last of Us.
Florence Pugh
For a complex character like Abby in The Last of Us season two, some fans have pointed to Florence Pugh for her range. Pugh has been seen in everything from the heartwarming Little Women to the anxiety inducing Midsommar and has handled them both with expert skill. No stranger to action, Pugh had an early role in the film Fighting With My Family, produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, where she plays real life former WWE Diva's Champion Saraya Bevis, known professionally as Paige. And with Pugh's recent role as Yelena in the MCU, she has more than proven herself an action star needed for the powerhouse that is Abby.
Chloe Grace Moretz
Despite being set at a point where the virus is significantly less of a threat, The Last of Us Part 2 is even more bleak than its predecessor, which will also make it even harder to adapt to television, and whoever plays the role of Abby will inevitably shoulder much of that burden. Which is perhaps why some have looked to Chloe Grace Moretz to play the character, having experience in both the action genres with her character of Hit-Girl in the Kick-Ass films, and post-apocalypse with her playing the lead in The 5th Wave. Moretz's filmography means she would be no stranger to the kind of world that these characters are trying to survive in, and with a character like Abby, that kind of experience would be an asset.
Rhonda Rousey
Given the physicality of Abby, many players have looked to the ample amount of pro-wrestlers who have taken a turn at acting to see if any could potentially be a good fit for the role. Rhonda Rousey was a popular early choice, it even being speculated for a time that she was the body model for Abby in the game before that was confirmed to be false, but with Rousey being a good fifteen years older than the twenty-year-old character, fans aren't likely to see her in season two unless the show runners decide on aging Abby up for the show.
Amber Midthunder
Another possible actress who could fit the role would be Amber Midthunder. Although relatively unknown compared to some of the other names on this list, Midthunder was worked on shows such as Legion,Roswell New Mexico, and recently starred in Hulu's Predator prequel Prey, giving her an impressive resume for the job. The actress also has a background as a teacher of Brazilian Jujitsu that would reflect well Abby's strength, but with her recently being cast in Netflix's Avatar The Last Airbender adaptation, she might be too busy to take on the role. Though Midthunder might not be a viable option given possible scheduling conflicts, some fans have eyed her Reservation Dogs co-star Paulina Alexis for the role as well, who has the benefit of actually being close to Abby in age.
With most of the season still yet to air, and the length of time it will take to produce, shoot, and edit season two, it's going to be awhile before fans see Abby on screen. The show so far has demonstrated an exceptional use of its source material that has given fans confidence in how they will handle the rest of the story and all of its challenges, and certainly finding the right actress to play Abby will be a challenge. But one thing that is certain is that even with so much regarding season two up in the air, what's left of season one will be given the full attention of those excited for what comes next.
The Last of Us is streaming on HBO Max.