Kaitlyn Dever is joining the second season of HBO‘s The Last of Us series adaptation as Abby.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, Abby is described as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.” Dever was a fan favorite for the role of Ellie due to her resemblance to the character and reportedly even auditioned for the role, but was not given the part as producers wanted a younger actor; it eventually went to 20-year-old Bella Ramsey.
“Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said in a joint statement. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro [Pascal], Bella and the rest of our family.”
Abby was introduced in The Last of Us Part II, with Laura Bailey delivering the motion capture and voice acting of the character. She is a soldier of the Washington Liberation Front who seeks revenge for the death of her father, Jerry. In the video game sequel, Abby becomes one of the two main playable characters alongside Ellie.
Production for season two is scheduled to begin this spring, with a release date aimed for 2025.
