The debut season of HBO's The Last of Us proved to be a massive success in 2023. The show offered a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse theme, captivating audiences with gripping action, exceptional performances, and timely social commentary. Fortunately, for enthusiasts of The Last of Us universe, the show's second season is gearing up for production in February and is slated for a 2025 debut. However, fans are likely to have numerous queries about the upcoming season, which is expected to closely mirror the second The Last of Us game.
One of the pivotal characters in the second season is set to be Abby. As she is anticipated to play a crucial role in the forthcoming season, her casting holds significant importance. Nonetheless, the casting team for The Last of Us faces additional challenges, with other essential roles such as Dina requiring adept actors who can carry the weight seen in the game. While the casting choices for roles like Dina, Lev, and others are yet to be disclosed, The Last of Us has recently revealed a significant casting decision for the character of Abby.
Kaitlyn Dever Lands the Role of Abby in The Last of Us Season 2
On January 9th, HBO's The Last of Us announced that Kaitlyn Dever will take on the role of Abby in season 2. This name might ring a bell for The Last of Us enthusiasts, as Dever was a favored choice among fans for the role of Ellie in the first season due to her striking resemblance to the game's version of Ellie. Dever reportedly auditioned for the role, although ultimately Bella Ramsey was cast as the immune teenager. While some fans may have initially expressed frustration over this decision, the casting proved to be successful as Ramsey played a pivotal role in leading The Last of Us season 1 to critical acclaim and impressive ratings. Nevertheless, Dever now has the opportunity to shine in one of HBO's flagship shows in 2025.
In response to this announcement, series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann released a statement, stating, "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."
Dever will join other actors from season 1 as a presumably significant character in The Last of Us season 2, assuming that the show closely follows the game's narrative, similar to the approach in season 1. Actors confirmed to be participating in season 2 include Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie), with Gabriel Luna (Tommy) and Rutina Wesley (Maria) likely to make a return.
Other Works Featuring Kaitlyn Dever
Dever is an accomplished actor, having appeared in various well-known productions such as Booksmart, Dopesick, No One Will Save You, Short Term 12, Justified, and more. For a dramatic performance by Dever, fans may want to explore No One Will Save You, where she portrays an anxiety-filled recluse having peculiar encounters with extraterrestrials. To witness a more comedic side of Dever, viewers can consider watching Booksmart, where she plays the role of a high schooler embarking on a coming-of-age journey, striving to make the most of her remaining days as a teenager.
Throughout her career, Dever has demonstrated her reliability and capability as an actor. The diverse range of characters she has portrayed highlights her acting prowess, and her versatility is likely to be showcased in her portrayal of Abby in The Last of Us season 2.
Understanding Abby's Role in The Last of Us
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 is revealed to be the daughter of one of the surgeons murdered by Joel at the conclusion of The Last of Us Part 1. Seeking retribution for this act, Abby and a group of former Fireflies locate Joel and execute him just outside of Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel, Ellie, and others were residing. Ellie and Tommy witness Joel's brutal demise and vow to seek vengeance by tracking down Abby and eliminating her and the other former Fireflies in return.
As Ellie embarks on a somber quest to avenge her father figure, Abby temporarily disappears from the game until she reemerges by ambushing Ellie and her group in Seattle. Subsequently, in a surprising twist for many The Last of Us fans, the game's timeline shifts back a few days and the user assumes the role of Abby. Through this perspective, the user experiences analogous acts of revenge from Abby's vantage point, following the discovery of her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant girlfriend, Mel, who were slain by Ellie due to their involvement in Joel's death. This culminates in the aforementioned ambush, where Abby inflicts severe harm on Ellie and her partner Dina, but refrains from killing them.
Several months later, Ellie learns of Abby's location and sets out once more to find her, still intent on avenging Joel's death. After Abby is captured by a group of slavers, Ellie locates and frees her, before compelling Abby to engage in combat. Ellie overpowers Abby and is on the brink of ending her life, but a flashback involving Joel persuades her to desist, ultimately choosing to spare Abby.
The first season of The Last of Us is available for streaming on MAX.