Neil Druckmann Reveals Why Abby Isn’t So Buff in The Last of Us Season 2

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HBO’s “The Last of Us” is generally true to its original content, yet it occasionally alters certain aspects due to the distinct nature of storytelling in a different medium.

Introducing co-star Abby in Season 2, many viewers discovered that actress Kaitlyn Dever doesn’t share the muscular physique of the character from the game, which was a prominent feature of her original design. However, it became clear in the series that Abby’s muscle mass wasn’t what truly defined her.

Live-Action Abby Gets Nerfed

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, game developer Neil Druckmann discusses the choice of casting Dever and reasons behind not requiring her to gain muscle for the series. In simpler terms, he shares his thoughts on why it wasn’t essential for Dever to build her physique for the show.

What we’re seeking is someone who can truly embody the spirit of those characters… Physical resemblance, such as matching eyebrows, noses, or body shape, isn’t our primary concern. Instead, we focus on other aspects that we deem more important.

In the game, Druckmann believed it was essential for Abby to be muscular and tough due to game design considerations. On the other hand, when it comes to the television series, they decided to make Abby more similar to Ellie in terms of character development. Druckmann further explained that this choice was made for the adaptation.

Finding someone as skilled as Kaitlyn for this role would have been a challenge… In the game, you need to portray both characters [Ellie and Abby], but they must display distinct characteristics. Ellie should appear more nimble and maneuver around, while Abby is intended to be more like Joel in her ability to physically handle situations forcefully. This dynamic isn’t as prominent in this version of the story because there’s less continuous action. Instead, it focuses on drama, though there’s still action present. The emphasis and approach are different.

Dever’s Meta-Casting as Abby

While Dever might not share the physical characteristics of Abby, some viewers might see her casting as a creative or symbolic choice made by the show creators.

Prior to Bella Ramsey being selected for the role of Ellie, Devon was widely favored by fans to portray her due to her physical resemblance and vocal similarity to the character. Now that Devon has been cast as Abby, there’s a certain thematic link between the two actresses, reinforcing the parallel between Ellie and Abby in the larger narrative context of the story.

How Much is Season 2 Going to Cover?

It seems that we don’t have a definitive idea about how much Season 2 will encompass from The Last of Us Part II, but based on the trailer, it appears that it might stop around the midpoint of the game. From what we can see, the series is likely to focus primarily on Ellie’s rampage through Seattle, up until her encounter with Abby once more.

It appears that Abby’s tale will primarily unfold in Season 3 since there are no actors cast for her sidekicks Lev and Yara at this point. However, it seems clear that Season 2 will provide essential background information about Abby’s storyline and explain how she is linked to Ellie from the start.

It appears that the creators might expand the narrative for the Wanderers of Light and Faith (WLFs), with their leader Isaac having a smaller role in the game. Additionally, there could potentially be insights into the history of the Seraphites too. Patience is key as fans await these upcoming developments.

The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on Max this coming April.

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2025-02-04 18:12