The Last of Us Season 2 has reportedly cast its Abby
The wheels of Tinsel Town are finally turning again, and as the WAG/SAG-AFTRA strikes finally come to an end, we can finally get back to business. With this, things are shuffling forward on HBO's much-hyped The Last of Us Season 2.
Following years of trying to get a live-action The Last of Us off the ground, Game Director Neil Druckmann and Chernobyl's Craig Mazin brought the Cordyceps infection to life in 2023. We'd always expected the series would be a hit that warranted a multi-season order, but unfortunately, The Last of Us Season 2 has been left to marinate.
The Last of Us Season 2 has reportedly found its Abby
The Last of Us Season 1 neatly told the story of 2013's video game of the same name, with an almost beat-for-beat finale lining up with the end of the first game. It doesn't take a genius to figure out Season 2 will head straight into 2020's Part II, although we're told the epic sequel will be told over more than one season.
For those who've played the divisive Part II, you'll know a pretty major figure is on the horizon, with Abby Anderson set to be the antagonist of Season 2 (and beyond). As Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were universally praised for their portrayals of Joel and Ellie, casting Abby is a key part of Season 2's success.
According to journalist Jeff Sneider (via his InSneider site), Kaitlyn Dever has landed the lucrative role of Abby in The Last of Us Season 2. Sneider reminds us how Druckmann confirmed Abby had been cast back in August, with him claiming he's now heard Dever is the lucky lady
Who is Kaitlyn Dever?
Click to enlargeFor those who haven't heard of Dever, she's known for her roles in everything from Bad Teacher to Netflix's Unbelievable, Justified to No One Will Save You. Getting her breakout as Loretta McCready in Justified, Dever also starred alongside Tim Allen in Last Man Standing before heading into leading roles.
As well as appearing in teen comedy Booksmart, Dever got a Golden Globe nomination for her part in Unbelievable, before being cast in Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen. More recently, she starred in FX's The Premise and earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her part as Betsy Mallum in Dopesick.
Dever's potential casting is a seemingly out-there choice, especially as there was a lot of buzz about The Wilds' Shannon Berry being cast as Abby. Others claimed Marvel Cinematic Universe favourite Florence Pugh was being touted before the strikes.
Whoever nabs the role of Abby, there are worries about the character in general. Abby remains one of the most divisive video game characters of all time, and with the second half of Part II shifting to her perspective, the lucky actor playing her will surely have a major role in The Last of Us' live-action future.
