Kaitlyn Dever Addresses Abby Casting Backlash

Actress Kaitlyn Dever has opened up about her upcoming role as Abby in The Last of Us Season 2, confessing she struggles to avoid reading online reactions to the controversial character.

The character of Abby has drawn significant backlash, with some fans directing their frustration beyond fiction by harassing Naughty Dog staff including Neil Druckmann and voice actress Laura Bailey. This escalated to threats against Bailey's family, including her toddler.

HBO took precautions during Season 2 production, providing Dever with additional security due to potential backlash. "It's surreal how people genuinely hate Abby - a fictional character. Let's remember she's not real," commented Isabel Merced, who portrays Dina in the new season.

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In a ScreenRant interview, Dever addressed whether she follows fan anticipation about her portrayal.

"Honestly, it's difficult to avoid seeing those discussions online," she admitted.

"I occasionally catch myself looking, especially with such an important role. My priority is honoring the character and giving fans an authentic portrayal.

Ultimately, my focus remained on collaborating with Neil and Craig [Mazin], ensuring I captured Abby's essence - her motivations, emotional depth, anger, pain, and grief. That's where I channeled my energy."

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Last month, Druckmann revealed the HBO adaptation won't feature Abby's heavily muscular physique since the show doesn't require distinct gameplay mechanics.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Mazin explained Dever didn't need extensive physical transformation, as the TV version prioritizes drama over combat differentiation.

"Finding someone as talented as Kaitlyn was crucial," Druckmann noted. "In the game, we needed distinct playstyles - nimble Ellie versus powerhouse Abby. The show focuses more on emotional narrative than physical combat dynamics."

Mazin added: "This adaptation presents an opportunity to explore a physically more vulnerable but spiritually resilient Abby. We examine how her formidable nature expresses itself differently."

This foreshadows HBO's plan to extend The Last of Us Part 2's storyline across multiple seasons. While Season 3 hasn't been officially greenlit, Season 2 includes a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes to accommodate the expanded narrative.