Kaitlyn Dever on 'The Last of Us' Season 2: 'Hard to Ignore Internet Buzz'

Actress Kaitlyn Dever, set to portray Abby in HBO's highly anticipated *The Last of Us* Season 2, has opened up about the challenges of ignoring online reactions. The character Abby has been at the center of much controversy and toxicity, with some fans going as far as harassing Naughty Dog employees, including co-president Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey. The harassment has been severe, extending to threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young son.

Due to this intense backlash, HBO took extra precautions during the filming of Season 2, providing Dever with additional security. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in the series, commented on the absurdity of the situation, saying, "There's so many strange people in this world because there are people that actually genuinely hate Abby, who is not a real person. Just a reminder: not a real person."

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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In an interview with ScreenRant, Dever discussed her awareness of the anticipation and reactions surrounding Abby's portrayal. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she admitted. "It's hard not to stop myself from looking at it every once in a while, especially going into this, for sure. And I want to do this character justice and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in this kind of way."

Dever emphasized her focus on the collaborative process with Neil Druckmann and showrunner Craig Mazin, aiming to capture Abby's essence—her motivations, emotional state, and the complexities of her anger, frustration, and grief.

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Last month, Druckmann revealed that the HBO adaptation of *The Last of Us Part 2* would not portray Abby as muscular as in the game, as her role in Season 2 does not require the same mechanical distinctions from Ellie. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Mazin explained that Dever did not need to bulk up for the role because the series focuses more on drama than on replicating video game mechanics.

Druckmann noted the differences between the game and the show, stating, "In the game, you have to play both [Ellie and Abby] and we need them to play differently. We needed Ellie to feel smaller and kind of maneuver around, and Abby was meant to play more like Joel in that she's almost like a brute in the way she can physically manhandle certain things. That doesn't play as big of a role in this version of the story because there's not as much violent action moment to moment. It's more about the drama."

Mazin added a perspective on Abby's character, suggesting that the show offers a unique opportunity to explore a more vulnerable yet spiritually strong Abby. "I personally think there is an amazing opportunity here to delve into someone who is perhaps physically more vulnerable than the Abby in the game, but whose spirit is stronger. And then the question is: 'Where does her formidable nature come from and how does it manifest?' That's something that will be explored now and later."

This "now and later" reference hints at HBO's plan to extend *The Last of Us Part 2* beyond a single season, unlike Season 1, which covered the entire first game. Although Season 3 has not been officially greenlit, Mazin mentioned that Season 2 is designed with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for future developments.