Actress Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby in the eagerly anticipated Season 2 of HBO's The Last of Us, has opened up about the challenges of tuning out the online buzz surrounding her character. Abby, a pivotal figure in the series, has been at the center of significant controversy and toxicity, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction with the character's actions in ways that have led to real-world consequences.
The backlash has been so intense that it resulted in harassment of Naughty Dog employees, including co-president Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the video game. This harassment extended to threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young son. In response to the potential for such hostility, HBO provided Dever with additional security during the filming of Season 2. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in the season, highlighted the absurdity of the situation, stating, "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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During an interview with ScreenRant, Dever shared her struggles with avoiding online reactions to Abby's portrayal. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she admitted. She emphasized her commitment to doing justice to the character and satisfying fans by authentically bringing Abby to life. Dever's primary focus, however, remained on her collaboration with Neil Druckmann and showrunner Craig Mazin, concentrating on understanding Abby's core motivations, emotions, and complexities.
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Last month, Druckmann revealed that the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 would not portray Abby as the muscular character seen in the game, as her role in the series doesn't require emulating specific video game mechanics. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Mazin explained that Dever did not need to bulk up for the role because the narrative focus shifted from the game's mechanical distinctions to the character's dramatic depth.
Druckmann praised Dever, noting, "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role." He highlighted the differences in gameplay between Abby and Ellie in the game, which required distinct physical portrayals, a necessity less relevant in the TV adaptation, which prioritizes drama over constant action. Mazin added his perspective, suggesting that the show offers a unique opportunity to explore a more vulnerable yet spiritually strong Abby, delving into the origins and manifestations of her formidable nature.
The comments about "now and later" likely allude to HBO's intention to extend The Last of Us Part 2 narrative beyond a single season. While Season 3 has not been confirmed, Mazin has mentioned that Part 2 contains enough material to justify multiple seasons, and Season 2 has been structured with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for further exploration of Abby's story and the broader universe of The Last of Us.
