Kaitlyn Dever Knows What She Signed Up for When She was Cast as Abby for The Last of Us Season 2

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For enthusiasts of the TV series “The Last of Us” who are encountering Abby for the first time in the upcoming second season, those who have previously played “TLOU Part II” will recall the controversial responses towards Abby that surfaced when the game was initially released.

Some viewers have concerns that Kaitlyn Dever might face bullying due to her new role, but it seems clear that she was aware of the challenges ahead when she agreed to join the show’s cast.

‘It’s Hard NOT to See Those Things on the Internet’

As a gamer, I can’t help but notice the online chatter about Abby. It’s tough to ignore such comments, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to read them, especially before diving into portraying this character authentically. I want to ensure that I do justice to this character and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in a way that truly resonates with them.

It’s only normal to be curious about how people responded to Abby, the character portrayed by actress Laura Bailey in the game, and even Jocelyn Mettler, who served as her face model. Unfortunately, both women encountered backlash from some displeased Last of Us fans who weren’t overly fond of the character.

According to Dever, the primary aspect he concentrated on was the partnership between Neil Druckmann and Craig Maizin, ensuring I truly understood her character, her motivations, and her emotional landscape – encompassing her anger, frustration, sorrow, and more. My main goal was to channel most of my efforts into capturing these emotional elements accurately.

In the live-action series, Dever is portraying Abby. It’s plausible that she may encounter similar harsh criticism, but on the other hand, the shift in the show’s demographic might elicit a distinct response online.

Perhaps it’s because the vast majority of negative responses towards the game stem from players themselves, one might hope that viewers on television would exhibit more kindness. However, even the actors involved in “Game of Thrones” were not immune to harassment. Given that “The Last of Us” belongs to a distinct genre, it’s important to keep that factor in mind too.

Should Big Studios Protect Actors from Social Media Harassment?

Due to the passionate, yet unpredictable fanbases that often surround large franchises, there have been appeals from certain fans for film studios to safeguard actors who experience online harassment due to character-related hostility.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, it’s disappointing to see fellow gamers like Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran facing harassment on social media after their roles in Star Wars. It’s really impressive how Brie Larson manages to keep her fans engaged with regular updates, even amidst the hate she receives for her role as Captain Marvel.

It’s unclear precisely what steps studios should take to shield actors from online harassment, but speaking out against harmful behavior on their official channels is certainly a reasonable first step.

The Last of Us Season 2

As a gamer, I’m on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating how the larger gaming community responds when Abby enters the scene. It seems her tale won’t be fully unraveled this season, but instead, we’ll get a glimpse of it – with the majority of Abby’s journey set to unfold in the third season.

It’s likely that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have successfully achieved another feat similar to what they accomplished with Season 1.

Catch The Last of Us Season 2 when it premieres on Max this April 13.

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2025-03-13 00:12