Kaitlyn Dever on Joining ‘The Last of Us’ as Abby After She Was Eyed as Ellie: “This Was Always Meant to Be in My Life

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In the second installment of “The Last of Us,” we welcome actress Kaitlyn Dever who portrays Abby, a key figure and a determined soldier on a quest for revenge.

However, Dever’s connection to The Last of Us stretches over a decade, since she was first considered for the role of Ellie, the main character in the series who is portrayed by Bella Ramsey, during the era when a movie adaption of the game was being contemplated.

Initially, I didn’t try out for the role. Instead, I was having regular meetings with creator Neil Druckmann at his company Naughty Dog. He would show me how the game was being developed and unintentionally spoil parts of game II years before it was released. It was a heavy responsibility, especially considering the past decade has been tough. However, I always saw the role as something special that I could share with my father, as we used to play the game together. For a while, there were discussions about me playing Ellie, but those talks paused for a while during filmmaking.”

This version aims to maintain the original’s meaning while simplifying and rephrasing some of the more complex sentences for clarity and easier reading.

As a passionate gamer, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement when the project shifted into a TV show. Bella truly outdid herself, and together with Pedro, they created something so captivating during the first season that I found myself completely engrossed. So, when the opportunity to join the cast as Abby presented itself, it seemed like this role was destined for me, just in a new form, and that sense of serendipity was truly exhilarating.

Druckmann openly shared that they, along with fellow showrunner Craig Mazin, were genuinely apprehensive about casting the character Abby as it carries significant importance.

Over the course of many years, it occurred to us that Dever would be perfect for the role of Abby. He added, “We’re not always completely certain when casting someone, but we felt quite confident, and then when she acted alongside Bella and Pedro, we realized, wow, another instance of capturing lightning in a bottle. How fortunate are we!

In their search for Abby, Mazin emphasized the importance of finding someone who can play multiple roles: “a character who can be a self-reliant hero, a complex villain, a beloved figure, a puzzling enigma, and a protagonist we can cheer for and against. This person must elicit strong emotional responses from us, and Kaitlyn possesses an exceptional depth – there’s a richness to her that is truly moving. Sometimes, you find actors who are great company, but with Kaitlyn, you want to spend time with her and embrace her at the same time.

In the second season, I find myself five years into the future from where we left off last time. Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) have established themselves within a survivor’s community in Jackson, Wyoming. At first, tensions run high between us, and Joel even seeks help from a therapist, skillfully portrayed by Catherine O’Hara.

Mazin initially considered having Joel go to therapy during the first season, but decided to delay it until the second season instead. As he explained, “In a post-apocalyptic world, where the economy is based on barter, I kept wondering what would be valuable and what wouldn’t be? A therapist, in this context, would prove incredibly useful because everyone who’s still alive is hurting.

Mazin noted that Catherine O’Hara’s character interacts intriguingly with other characters in the narrative, even one that has only been mentioned in the games. This blend is engaging and offers a glimpse into what individuals choose to conceal during therapy sessions. He suggested that while we may assume they always tell their therapists the truth, it’s the hidden parts they omit that become fascinating.

Druckmann also shared his thoughts on the potential length of the series, indicating that there might be too much content for an entire second season from just ‘Part II’ of the game alone, implying that additional seasons, such as a third or even a fourth, could be in store.

To ensure a cohesive narrative, we prefer having a clear end goal in mind. This lets us understand the final chapter, where the story concludes, and some key milestones along the way. We determined the ideal stopping point for this season, then delved into specifics to find that it would be seven episodes. The story itself dictated this length. As for future seasons or episodes, we’re unsure at this stage. Once we regroup with the writers, we’ll decide on how many more chapters this tale will have, if we’re fortunate enough to continue the journey.

The Last of Us season two premieres April 13 on HBO and Max.

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2025-03-25 22:54