Highlights
- Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as Abby in the second season of HBO's The Last of Us, joining Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the main cast.
- Dever's casting is a major decision for the show, as she was initially considered for the role of Ellie in the first season.
- The second season of The Last of Us will likely follow the storyline of the second game, with Abby playing a pivotal role and other important casting choices still unannounced.
The first season of HBO's The Last of Us proved to be a massive hit in 2023. The show brought a refreshing approach to the zombie apocalypse scenario and entertained viewers through intense action, phenomenal acting, and timely social commentary. Fortunately for fans of the The Last of Us universe, the show's second season is set to begin production in February and is targeting a 2025 release. But fans probably still have many questions regarding the follow-up season, which will reportedly mirror the second The Last of Us game.
One of the second season's major characters will presumably be Abby. Since she will likely play a pivotal role in the show's next season, her casting is an important matter. However, Abby's role isn't the only challenge that The Last of Us' casting team faces. Other important roles, like Dina, will require strong actors who can carry the weight seen in the game. Although the casting choices for roles like Dina, Lev, and others are still unannounced, The Last of Us just announced a major casting decision for its Abby character.
The Last Of Us Part 1: The 17 Most Harrowing & Memorable Quotes
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Kaitlyn Dever will Play Abby in The Last of Us Season 2
HBO's The Last of Us announced on January 9th that Kaitlyn Dever will play Abby in season 2. This might be a familiar name for The Last of Us fans, as Dever was one of the original fan favorites to be cast in season 1 due to her striking resemblance to the game's version of Ellie. Dever reportedly auditioned for the role but this of course did not pan out, as Bella Ramsey was ultimately cast as the immune teenager. While some fans were somewhat frustrated with this decision at first, the casting choice paid off as Ramsey helped lead The Last of Us season 1 to critical acclaim and fantastic ratings. However, Dever will now get her chance to shine on one of HBO's flagship shows in 2025.
Regarding this announcement, series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann released a statement that read, "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, Bella and the rest of our family.”
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 ...
Dever will join other actors from season 1 as a presumably important character in The Last of Us season 2, assuming that the show mostly mirrors the game like it did in season 1. Other actors confirmed to be taking part in season 2 are Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie), and likely returning are actors Gabriel Luna (Tommy) and Rutina Wesley (Maria).
Where Else Can You See Kaitlyn Dever?
Some of Kaitlyn Dever's Roles | Release Date |
|---|---|
No One Will Save You | 2023 |
Next Goal Wins | 2023 |
Dopesick | 2021 |
Booksmart | 2019 |
Short Term 12 | 2013 |
Justified | 2011-2015 |
Dever is an established actor who has performed in a variety of well-known productions like Booksmart, Dopesick, No One Will Save You, Short Term 12, Justified, and more. To see a dramatic approach from Dever, fans should consider checking out No One Will Save You, where she stars as an anxiety-filled recluse who experiences strange encounters with extraterrestrials. To see a more comedic approach from Dever, viewers should consider checking out Booksmart, where she stars as a coming-of-age highschooler rushing to make the most of her final days as a teenager.
Throughout her career, Dever has proven herself as a reliable and capable actor. The wide variety of roles Dever has played showcases her talents as an actor, and her range will likely be put on display while playing Abby in The Last of Us season 2.
Abby's Role in The Last of Us, Explained
This section contains major spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 and The Last of Us season 2
Abby's Role in The Last of Us Part 2
- Is the daughter of one of the surgeons killed by Joel at the end of The Last of Us Part 1
- Tracks down Joel and kills him in revenge
- Ellie sets off on her own revenge mission to avenge Joel
- User plays from Abby's point of view for a significant portion of the game
- In the end, Abby and Ellie fight before Ellie decides to spare her
In 2020's The Last of Us Part 2, Abby was a daughter of one of the surgeons murdered by Joel at the end of The Last of Us Part 1. Abby seeks revenge for this act, and her and a group of former Fireflies track Joel down and kill him just outside of Jackson, Wyoming where Joel, Ellie, and co. were residing. Ellie and Tommy witness Joel's brutal death and vow to avenge him by tracking down Abby and killing her and the other former Fireflies in return.
As Ellie sets off on a brooding adventure to avenge her father figure, Abby disappears from the game for a bit until she reappears by ambushing Ellie and her group in Seattle. Then, in a move that surprised many The Last of Us fans, the game's timeline rolls back a couple of days and the user plays as Abby. From this point of view, the user experiences similar revenge killings from Abby's perspective, after she finds the bodies of her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant girlfriend, Mel, who were slain by Ellie for their involvement in Joel's death. This leads to the previously mentioned ambush, where Abby severely beats Ellie and her girlfriend Dina but stops short of killing them.
Several months later, Ellie is informed of Abby's whereabouts and sets off again to find her, still wishing to avenge Joel's death. After Abby is taken prisoner by a group of slavers, Ellie finds and rescues her, before forcing Abby to fight her. Ellie overpowers Abby and is on the verge of killing her before a flashback involving Joel convinces her to stop, and Ellie ultimately spares her.
The Last of Us season 1 is available to stream on MAX.
The Last Of Us
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.
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Creator
- Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
- Network
- HBO Max
