Kaitlyn Dever on 'The Last of Us' Season 2: 'Hard to Avoid Internet Spoilers'

Actress Kaitlyn Dever, set to portray Abby in HBO's highly anticipated *The Last of Us* Season 2, has openly discussed the challenges of tuning out the internet's reactions to her character. Abby, a polarizing figure from the game, has been at the center of significant online toxicity, which has even extended to real-life harassment of Naughty Dog employees, including co-president Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game. This backlash included threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young son. Recognizing the potential for escalated actions, HBO provided Dever with extra security during filming.

Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in Season 2, commented on the bizarre nature of the backlash, reminding fans that Abby is a fictional character. "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," Merced stated, highlighting the surreal nature of the situation.

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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In an interview with ScreenRant, Dever admitted to the difficulty of avoiding online reactions, particularly with the anticipation surrounding Abby's portrayal. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she said. She expressed her desire to do justice to the character and make fans proud, focusing on the core elements of Abby's personality and emotions, such as her anger, frustration, and grief, in collaboration with Neil Druckmann and showrunner Craig Mazin.

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Last month, Druckmann shared with Entertainment Weekly that the HBO adaptation of *The Last of Us Part 2* would not require Abby to be as muscular as in the game, as her role in the series focuses less on video game mechanics. Druckmann explained that the show prioritizes drama over the constant violent action seen in the game, where Abby's physicality was needed to differentiate her gameplay from Ellie's. "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role," Druckmann noted, emphasizing the unique storytelling approach of the series.

Craig Mazin added that the series presents an opportunity to explore a more vulnerable Abby, whose strength lies in her spirit rather than her physique. He hinted at delving deeper into her character's nature and its manifestations, both in the upcoming season and potentially beyond. This aligns with HBO's plan to extend *The Last of Us Part 2* across multiple seasons, with Season 2 ending at a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for further exploration of the story.