Actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby in the highly anticipated second season of HBO's The Last of Us, has opened up about the challenges of dealing with online reactions to her character. Known for her role in the video game The Last of Us Part II, Abby is a character who has stirred significant controversy and toxicity among fans. Dever confessed that it's difficult for her not to check the internet for feedback on her portrayal, highlighting the intense scrutiny she faces.
The character Abby has been at the center of much debate, with some fans expressing their dissatisfaction so vehemently that it led to harassment of Naughty Dog employees, including co-president Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game. The harassment extended to threats and abuse directed at Bailey, her parents, and her young son. Recognizing the potential for such reactions, HBO took precautionary measures by providing Dever with extra security during the filming of Season 2.
Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in Season 2, addressed 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." This sentiment underscores the bizarre nature of fan reactions to fictional characters.
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In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Dever discussed her approach to the role amidst the anticipation and scrutiny. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she admitted. She emphasized her commitment to doing justice to Abby and making fans proud by bringing the character to life authentically.
Dever's primary focus has been on collaborating closely with Neil Druckmann and showrunner Craig Mazin to delve deeply into Abby's emotions and motivations. "But my main focus was just the collaboration between Neil and Craig, and making sure I was really getting to the core of who she is and what drives her and her emotional state; her anger and her frustration and her grief and all of that," she explained. This dedication to understanding Abby's character highlights Dever's commitment to delivering a compelling performance.
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Last month, Druckmann shared insights into the adaptation process, noting that the HBO version of The Last of Us Part II would not portray Abby as the muscular character seen in the game. This decision reflects the show's different narrative priorities, focusing more on drama than on the game's mechanics. Druckmann explained to Entertainment Weekly that the show's Abby, played by Dever, does not need to physically bulk up because the role does not require the same mechanical distinction from Ellie as in the game.
Druckmann praised Dever, saying, "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role." He elaborated on the game's design, where Abby's physicality was meant to contrast with Ellie's, stating, "In the game, you have to play both 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."
However, in the HBO series, the focus shifts to storytelling rather than gameplay mechanics. Druckmann noted, "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. I'm not saying there's no action here. It's just, again, different priorities and how you approach it."
Craig Mazin added his perspective, emphasizing the opportunity to explore Abby's character in a new light. "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," he said. Mazin also hinted at Abby's development, stating, "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."
Mazin's mention of "now and later" likely alludes to HBO's intention to extend the story of The Last of Us Part II beyond a single season. While Season 3 has not been officially greenlit, the showrunners have designed Season 2 to conclude with a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, paving the way for future installments.
